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Padfield wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:54 pm...One of the paradoxes of today's youth is that we have never had a more environmentally conscious generation and at the same time, perhaps never had a generation more ignorant of natural history...

Padfield wrote: ↑Sun Aug 11, 2024 2:54 pm I think I have to find a copy of this for my collection ! It's beautifully written and really lovely.

It's interesting that almost all the butterflies (the exceptions being the undersides) are painted from collections, in the pinned position, as if that were what butterflies look like in nature ! The ladybird book, which I have (it was my first butterfly book), portrays at least some of the insects in more natural postures.

One of the paradoxes of today's youth is that we have never had a more environmentally conscious generation and at the same time, perhaps never had a generation more ignorant of natural history. It astounds me when I watch things like University Challenge, how many super-bright young things can't tell a blackbird from a raven or an ash from a sycamore. We desperately need the modern equivalent of Peter's Butterfly Friends !

Guy

young folk nowadays do not spend much time catching sticklebacks in jamjars like we did in the olden days

Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 9:32 pm University Challenge has finally got under way today

Roger Gibbons wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 3:00 pm

Charles Nicol wrote: ↑Mon Aug 12, 2024 9:32 pm University Challenge has finally got under way today

We are just catching up on the rounds that we recorded, just watched semi-final 1 from the last series.

As the rounds progress, the questions get harder and the knowledge of the contestants is just mind-blowing.

There was one question on a classical music piece which they failed to get right - it was by one of the great unknown composers, Aram Khachaturian. It was the only question we knew that they didn't, which in itself was amazing.

Guy, do you recall the conversation we had while going up a rack and pinion railway (to Bretaye?) and I think you said you had not heard of him?

Roger

Jack Harrison wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 1:40 pm I had a splendid education with Sticklebacks. One day, when I was aged about five, I made a bumper catch and I proudly took them home in a jam jar. Next morning, they were all dead.

With a bit of help from mum who, while not well educated (she left school at 15), was very smart. We realised that although fish live in water, they still need ‘air’ (oxygen) to breathe. I hadn’t known that, so unintentionally killed scores of Sticklebacks.

Jack

Roger Gibbons wrote: ↑Thu Aug 15, 2024 3:00 pm There was one question on a classical music piece which they failed to get right - it was by one of the great unknown composers, Aram Khachaturian. It was the only question we knew that they didn't, which in itself was amazing.

Guy, do you recall the conversation we had while going up a rack and pinion railway (to Bretaye?) and I think you said you had not heard of him?

Roger

Jack Harrison wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 9:34 am But think positively, Charles.  Had it not been for my efforts, instead of Cod and Chip, it might be Stickleback and Chips today. 

Google had this to say:

"Why are sticklebacks hard to eat?"

"The spines can be raised and locked into position in a highly effective defence against predators like the kingfisher, making a stickleback impossible to swallow."

Jack

Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Aug 20, 2024 6:52 pm I'm truly flattered my admission of ignorance made such an impression on you, Roger! I remember that trip to Bretaye. We took a walk along a cow track where various Erebia come to take minerals - and I think we failed to see water ringlet ... It's a late species there. We did see a stoat among the rocks, though.