152 
NATURE NOTES. 
.(though not quite, we admit, in a Selbornian fashion) in comparison with that 
portentous prig, “ Pater Brooke,” who seemed to think the great object of the 
human race was to win football matches. Things are changed a bit now, and for 
the change much credit is due to the prominence given to natural history in 
school magazines. 
Notable among such periodicals is the Stonyhurst Magazine , which we hav 
seen through the courtesy of the Rev. Matthew Russell, S. J., editor of the Irish 
Monthly. We find in it a number of careful records of the appearance of birds, 
insects and llowers, which show that the boys of that well-known college are 
by no means immersed in their studies as “ Philosophers ” or “Rhetoricians,” 
but can find plenty of time for intelligent observation of the operations of 
Nature. Specially deserving of notice is a series of papers on “Our Birds,” by 
an anonymous, but evidently able, writer. The article in the June number on 
the “Wagtail,” shows considerable ornithological knowledge as well as that 
happy style which is necessary'to prevent the enumeration of ornithological details 
becoming a weariness to the flesh. Perhaps we are not far wrong in ascrib- 
ing the zeal shown for natural history in Stoneyhurst College to the residence 
there of the Rev. John Gerard, S.J., one of whose able works was reviewed 
by us in a former number of Nature Notes (vol. i, p. 58). 
The Reports of the Felsted School Natural History Society (Essex County 
Chronicle Office, Chelmsford), gives us full proof that the teaching of natural 
science is conducted there in such a way as to render it as interesting as 
instructive. The work referred to in the report is entirely voluntary and 
extra scholastic, but it is evident that the masters enter as fully into the pur- 
suit as the boys, and give them the benefit of accurate scientific guidance in 
making observations and collections. We are ehiefly struck with the valuable 
collection of rare, local and otherwise interesting British plants cultivated by 
this Natural History Society, in what they call, by what we cannot help con- 
sidering a misnomer, their weed garden. We hope before long to recur to this 
subject, and compare the work done in this direction at Felsted with similar 
efforts in other quarters. In each school society of this kind there is one moving 
spirit who animates the whole. In the present case the Rev. E. Gapp, M.A., 
secretary and treasurer of the society, has, doubtless, the greater portion of the 
work, and deserves the greater part of the credit which attaches to this very 
active and flourishing association. 
Another school in which similar work is done, and apparently very well done 
too, is Queenwood College, Hants. The Notes of the Summer Terms for various 
years abound in pleasantly written aud admirably illustrated records of excursions 
into the beautiful country which surrounds that school, and it is evident from the 
“ Natural History Notes ” appended, that there are among those excursionists 
some skilled and accurate observers of Nature. We shall be glad to receive 
accounts of work done in this direction by the schools mentioned, or others which 
enjoy similar advantages. 
The Proceedings of the Boys' Field Club (T. S. Carey & Co., Adelaide, South 
Australia) is an account of the doings of a combination of schools for the study of 
natural history. We are delighted to find that it is very successful and conducted 
on sound principles, as may be seen from the title of a very interesting address 
given by Ur. Cockburn at one of their meetings — “ The Naturalist Loves Life.” 
“They should study life,” he tells his schoolboy audience ; “ learn from it ; not 
destroy it, for the true naturalist loves life.” 
The Sunnyside Chronicle (Alexander Burnet, Montrose) is a bright and 
interesting account of what is going on at Montrose Asylum. The “ Bird Gossip” 
is well-written, and includes a very sympathetic account of the work of the Selborne 
Society. If the views of the inmates of the Montrose Asylum are correctly 
represented by the Sunnyside Chronicle, we can only wish that our legislators at 
Westminster were half as sane. 
The Rural World (95, Colmore Row, Birmingham) is a well-edited and very 
cheap weekly paper, which gives valuable information for labourers, cottagers, 
farmers, and the rural population generally. Some of us may consider it too 
political, and believe that the value of its teaching with regard to poultry and small 
gardens would not be lessened if it did not so frequently insist on the surpassing 
merits of Mr. Joseph Chamberlain and Mr. Jesse Codings ; but even if we were 
