There were a few carelessly made articles where bad sewing, most inappropriate trimming--eminently one overall with extremely common imitation fur, the cotton back of which was visible and very untidy--disqualified for prizes or even honourable mention.
We were much disappointed to find that there were only two flannel petticoats sent in, and no serge underskirts at all! Certainly the younger members of our readers have not shown much interest in the competition. The two petticoats sent were so good that the first prize was divided between them.
There were not nearly as many competitors altogether as we hoped for, and that was the unsatisfactory part, for really our belief in our girls' desire to help the poor was very deeply rooted. We also hoped that more would have been spurred on by the chance of a prize to send in some article.
First prize, one guinea, divided between--
Marion Wilson Rankin, Shirgarton, North Mount Vernon, Glasgow, and Eleanor Dorothy Pimm, Linholme, 40, George Road, Edgbaston.
The second prize of half-a-guinea is divided between--
Mabel Weller, North Shields, and Leila Mary Bowen, Ludlow.
So many of the blouses merited special commendation that we give a list of--
Rose Baiden, Daisy Clarke, E. Morris, Eleanor Groves, Winifred Hopton, Eva Davenport, Janet Lamb, A. M. Deacon, Ida A. Browne, Nellie Cannon, Emily White, Mabel Barr, Carrie M. Anthony, Margaret Beckett, Alice M. Hewitt, E. M. Corke, Alethea Bate.
BY JEAN A. OWEN, Author of "Forest, Field and Fell," etc.
The part played by some of the different species in the animal world (_sic_), in the development of our earth and its resources, cannot be over-estimated. In some parts of America, for instance, the persistent industry of beavers in the construction of dams has rendered fertile whole tracts of prairie land that were once arid and barren.
In the _Castoridae_, together with the squirrels, the beaver family constitute the group termed _Sciuromorpha_, a group distinguished by its members having a special type of lower jaw structure, and also the same type of skull structure. The powerful incisor teeth of the beaver are admirably suited to the cutting through of small tree stems, of branches and twigs, whilst its flat and scaly tail serves as a rudder to a creature that always makes its home beside or in the midst of water.