The following are samples of the latter. Cases of land and fresh-water shells of Hitcham. Photographs of microscopic objects enlarged, including the _first_ ever made, by the Rev. H. Kingsley, Tutor of Sidney College, Camb. in 1855. A case containing living specimens of the smallest British Mammal, the harvest mouse. Pearls from British molluscs. The slow-worm and viper in spirits, to show their differences. Hornets' and wasps' nests, naturally mounted, taken by himself, etc. The Monday afternoon lessons in botany in the village school-room, held after school-hours, were always remarkable for the enthusiasm exhibited by the children. They were perfectly voluntary, but none was admitted to the Third Class until the child had learnt to spell correctly thirteen terms of classification of the classes, divisions and sections. On entering the class they at once began to fill up the "Floral Schedule[104]." The botanical lesson included:-- 1st--Inspection of specimens, anything special noticed and explained. 2nd--"Hard word" exercises. Two or three words (botanical terms) given to be correctly spelt on the next Monday. 3rd--Specimens examined and dissected and floral schedules, traced on slates, to be filled up. Marks allowed for accuracy, etc. 4th--Questions on the plant "organs." Botanical excursions were made for those only who had received a sufficient number of marks. The First Class came at certain times to the rectory on Sunday afternoons after Divine Service; when objects of natural history were shown and "such accounts given of them as may tend to improve our means of better appreciating the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator[105]." A printed list of all the wild flowers in Hitcham was always suspended in the school-room, and a rack for named phials, which the children had to keep supplied with flowers as they came into blossom. Of course, little rewards were given to those who first found a flower and those who supplied the greater number, etc. One of the exhibits of the Horticultural Shows was the collections of wild flowers made by the children. In addition, a public examination in botany was held, and a stranger would often find it a difficult matter to puzzle one of the best pupils, not merely as to the name--a trivial matter--but as to the structure of the flower itself. The Government Inspector in 1858, wrote as follows in his Report:--"Extra subjects, pretty fair, and among them Botany, _excellent_; this last being most thoroughly yet simply taught, and by such a system that there can be no cram. As far as a child goes, it must _know_ what it does. _The good moral effect of this study on the minds of the children is very apparent._"