48 
WAYSIDE NOTES 
which are exhibited in the several kinds of symmetry; and 
when we take into account inherited effects, wrought under 
ancestral conditions contrasted in various ways with present 
conditions, we are enabled to comprehend, in a general way, 
the actions by which animals have been moulded into the 
shapes they possess.” 
Midland Geologists are to be heartily congratulated on the award 
of the medals at the disposal of the Geological Society of London for 
the year 1887. Two of these have fallen to the lot of Birmingham 
men, the Bigsby medal, given biennially, being awarded to Professor 
Charles Lapworth, LL.I)., of the Mason College, and the Lvell medal, 
awarded annually, being appropriated to Mr. Samuel Allport, F.G.S., 
of the same College. The Bigsby medal has a rather quaint foundation 
deed. It is awarded “ as an acknowledgment of eminent services in 
any department of geology, irrespective of the receiver’s country; but 
he must not be older than forty-five years at his last birthday, thus 
probably not too old for further work, and not too young to have done 
much.” This latter sounds rather like a delicate paraphrase of “not 
too old to be lazy, nor too young to be foolishbut really the limit of 
forty-five years, as that at which men are liable to cease doing good 
original work, is a striking expression of the opinion Dr. J. J. Bigsby, 
F.R.S.,had of himself and the majority of his most eminent compeers, 
and one which probably neither he nor they would be willing to accept 
the application of. Man’s intellectual powers rarely reach maturity 
before forty ; their decline must evidently be phenomenally rapid. 
However, we believe that Dr. Lapworth will have many years of good 
work before him when he has reached the Bigsby limit of forty-five. 
By the way, the Lyell medal carries a money grant with it of at 
least £25. 
Men may come, and men may go, but the letters on Physiological 
Selection in the columns of “ Nature ” go on for ever. 
We find that we have to welcome another “ local Naturalist.” 
The Essex Field Club has converted its transactions and proceedings 
into a monthly periodical called “ The Essex Naturalist.” We heartily 
wish it success. One of the main considerations which has caused 
the change is the desire which the society has to encourage inter¬ 
communication amongst its members, by promoting the contribution 
of personal notes of things of interest which have come under their 
observation. Readers of the “Midland Naturalist” could effectively 
brighten our own columns in the same way. 
Motto foe a Spoetsman : “If you see a strange bird, shoot it.” If 
you do not, probably someone else will, for this phase of the undying 
curiosity of man is well-nigh universal. How many rare birds, like 
the “hunting hawks,” for instance, which have been seen with 
more frequency in recent years, would again settle down and 
become domiciled amongst us, could the gunners only be persuaded to 
leave them alone. But so deeply impressed is the principle that a 
bird in the cabinet is worth two dozen in the field, that protest seems 
hopeless. Will the time ever come when we can cease grieving over 
the needless destruction of rare birds, butterflies, or plants ? 
