SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
77 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Birmingham and Midland. -On March 24 a lecture, entitled “Mow 
Fishes Talk,” was delivered in the Birmingham University by I’rofe-sor T. W. 
Bridge, F. K.S. There was a good attendance of mendrers and friends. The 
lecture was illustrated by numerous diagrams, lantern slides, and specimens. 
Mr. T. II. Russell presided, and, at the close, accorded the Lecturer a hearty 
vote of thanks. 
Clapton (Lower Lea Valley). — A meeting of this Branch was held at 
Sigdon Koad Board School, Hackney Downs, on .Saturday, February 20, when 
Mr. K. Marshrnan Wattson delivered a lecture on “ Slones of English History.” 
After a brief glance at pre-historic and Saxon architecture, Mr. Wait.son devoted 
the principal part of his lecture to the study of Norman work in England, illus- 
trating his remarks with photographic slides of buildings, interspersed with 
pictures showing the various costumes (Ecclesiastical, military, &c.), of the different 
periods. 
Croydon. — On February 5 a Museunr Evening was held at the North Park 
Ladies’ College, by kind permission of Miss Sturton. A large numlrer of speci- 
mens of all kinds were lent for exhibition, including a large number from the 
College Museunr. These were suitably arranged in the iron hall attached to the 
College. Alter a few words of welcome from Miss Sturton to the children and 
friends who were present, the collection was formally opened by Mr. Edward A. 
Marlin, F.G.S., who. after a few preliminary remarks, conducted the children 
and others around the exhibits, explaining the characteristics of some of the 
specimens. Amongst the various loan objects which were exhibited were fossils 
and minerals sent by Mr. Marlin, some interesting century-old newspapers and 
other curios by Mr. Feist, an old Roman coin found in Croydon shown by Norah 
Feist, a fine collection of teeth and bones from caves in Devonshire by Mi.ss 
Phillips, and many others. The fine collection of shells which is in the Museum 
was the object of much admiration. 
The usual monihly meeting of the Branch took place on March 4 at North Park 
Ladies’ College, when a most interesting lecture was given by Mr. Keatley 
Moore, B.A., B.Mus. The subject of the lecture was “ The Siairy Firmament.” 
Mr. Moore exposed certain popular errors w'hich are constantly occurring both in 
art and literature, and also showed how to recognise easily the principal constel- 
lations of the Northern Hemisphere. A vote of thanks was carried to the 
lecturer, on the proposition of Mr. E. A. Martin, seconded by Mr. Matthew 
Hunt. It was announced that the exhibition of prints belonging to the Surrey 
Photographic Survey, which would be on view at the Library on March 12 and 
succeeding days, would be open to Members of the Society. 
Hampstead. — At the Subscription Library, Prince Arthur Road, N.W., on 
February 29 last, Mr. Frank P. Smith delivered a lecture entitled “Spiders — 
their Structure and Habits,” to a full and appreciative audience of members and 
their friends. He showed how in some instances the female, when she had no 
longer any use lor him, devoured the male, who would reappear in the shape of 
eggs or web. Mr. Smith said he would be merciful to his auditors and not pelt 
them with the forbidding names that are used in spider-study, though to give an 
idea of what they were like he had some of them thrown upon the screen. 
The slides used were superb, and were all of Mr. Smith’s own preparation. The 
thanks accorded to him at the end of his fascinating talk were exceedingly hearty. 
Mr. L. Douglas Wilson occupied the chair. 
The last lecture of the session was given at the Town Hall, Haverstock Hill, 
N.W., on the 19th ult. The lecturer was Mr. J. B. Butler Burke, M.A., of 
Trinity College, Cambridge, and the subject of his discussion was the all engros- 
sing one of Radium. Mr. Burke had been good enough to bring with him his 
own operator and lantern, and, as may be supposed, the slides which he showed 
and the experiments which he conducted added greatly to the alliacticns of the 
occasion. Warm was the vote of thanks accorded to Mr. Burke for his valuable 
services to the Society. Mr. R. Hedger Wallace, Member of the Council, 
occupied the chair. 
