Professor JAMES RITCHIE , D.Sc. (Professor
- of Natural History in the University of Aberdeen): 'Yesterday's Creatures: Going and Gone'
(From Aberdeen)
THIS is the second in a series of talks which sets out to describe some of the everyday facts of natural history and to interest listeners in the urgent practical problems which arise from man's ' civilised interference ' with wild life. For example, there is the extermination in the past of entire species of animals at the hands of mankind. But that is a process that is by no means the monopoly of the history books. Our own day sees the same forces still at work in the effort of man to be for ever reshaping nature to his own ends. In this talk Professor Ritchie will tell listeners something of those changes which are occurring almost in front of their own eyes. The present generation may indeed see the last of many of the most interesting wild creatures-in Great Britain, at least. All these talks, by the way, will be built on common facts, such as may be observed by anyone who .uses his eyes in walking in the country or by the sea. They have been ananged more particularly to meet the wishes of country-dwelling listeners. Townsmen, however, especially if they are nature lovers, will find them no less interesting or valuable on that account.