SELDORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
59 
of an idea, which germinated fifteen or twenty years among the meml)ers of the 
British Association, of keeping a record of geological observations by means of 
photography. Some of the slides were pretty, some were not, but purely educa- 
tional, and some were both. Mr. Whitaker threw upon the screen sections of 
various rocks, some magnified, some not. He discussed the Carboniferous Lime- 
stone, and the appearance of coal as seen under the microscope. Then he dealt 
with limestone generally and other calcareous formations, proving that under 
high magnification these were found to be made up almost entirely of micro- 
organisms. Especially lucid were Mr. Whitaker’s e.xplanations of rock bedding, 
and of the pressure to which in course of time difl'erent strata had been subjected, 
causing them to have a vertical, or neatly vertical, instead of a horizontal position. 
A description of a submerged forest in Cheshire, with the fossilised trees exposed 
to view at low tide, was followed by the audience with the closest attention. 
Another set of slides illustrated caverns in limestone districts, particular notice 
being drawn to stalactites and the stalagmiiic floor. Mr. Whitaker referred in 
some detail to the movements of the earth's crust, exhibiting a rise here and a 
sinking there, and concluded his extremely able and interesting address by point- 
ing out that geology was not the dry ami unattractive science it had sometimes 
been represented. On the motion of Dr. H. Bellamy Gardner and Mr. I". 
Morris, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer, while a similar 
compliment was passed to the Chairman, Mr. M. Yeatman Woolf. 
February i8, the local Committee and Delegates again visited, by special 
invitation, the museum of Mr. M. Yeatman Woolf, at 46, St. John’s Wood Park, 
where they had the pleasure of meeting about twenty members of the Battersea 
Field Club. After inspecting the many interesting exhibits, which had been 
distributed over two or three rooms so that they might be viewed to the best 
advantage, the visitors had the privilege of listening to an address on “ Tunicates ” 
by Mr. P. Macleod Yearsley, F. K.C.S., F.Z.S., prep.ired specially for the 
occasion. During the afternoon heartiest thanks were passed to .Mr. Yearsley for 
his demonstration and to Mr. and Mrs. Woolf for arranging the meeting as well 
as for the hospitality which they afterwards dispensed, not, it is but right to 
acknowledge, for the first lime this winter. 
The Committee of the Branch has pleasure in acknowledging subscriptions 
of greater value than 5s. from the following members: Thomas J. Barrett, Esq., 
£.1 IS . ; Arthur T. Cummings, Esq., £\ is. ; C. H. Collam, Esq., los. ; Peter 
Hastie, Esq., los. ; Henry Wilkins, Esq., los. ; Mrs. Henry Wilkins, los. 
North Middlesex (Junior). — The new session of this Branch has opened 
well. The Committee decided to admit ladies, and several have availed them- 
selves of the privilege and have been admitted Associates of the Society. 
On January 6, Mr. W’. J. Wade (Associate), spoke on “ Electricity and Animal 
Magnetism,” and on Friday, January 20, Mr. F. E. W'alkin (Associate), gave an 
excellently written paper on “British Freshwater Fishes.” Mr. Watkin dealt 
with the habits and haunts of the various coarse fish, and also spoke at some length 
on the natural history of our game fish, the salmon, trout, &c. An interesting 
discussion followed. 
On Friday, February 3, Mr. George Brooks (member of the Selborne Society) 
gave an instructive and entertaining demonstration on “ Popular Entomology.” 
He referred to many popular fallacies that existed in connection with butterflies 
and moths, and illustrated their differences by means of a well-arranged collection 
of those insects. Mr. Hall had mounted several slides of scales and other objects 
which he showed under the microscope, to assist in illustrating the subject. 
Rowland Houses Nature-Study Society (Junior).— On Monday, 
February 6, Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb gave a lecture, illustrated by lantern 
slides, to the members of the Branch. The subject was “Colour in Nature,” and 
particular attention was paid to the uses of colour and markings to animals, 
though the lecturer did not fail to point out cases where colour could hardly have 
any significance, and others in which its explanation has not yet been discovered. 
Seaford (Jnnior). — The inaugural meeting was held at Queen’s Park House 
on February 18, when Mr. Hubert Poole, Honorary Librarian of the Society, 
addressed the members on “ The Objects of the Selborne Society and the Duties 
of Selbornians.” A discussion followed, and a number of Associates were enrolled. 
