E-text prepared by V. L. Simpson, Jonathan Ingram, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 23331-h.htm or 23331-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/3/3/23331/23331-h/23331-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/3/3/3/23331/23331-h.zip) PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI VOL. 150 FEBRUARY 16, 1916 CHARIVARIA. MANY early nestings are recorded as the result of the mild weather, and at least one occasional visitor (_Polonius bombifer_) has laid eggs in various parts of the country. * * * Says a learned correspondent of _The Observer_: "There may be fundamental differences between observed phenomena without affecting the validity of a strict analogy; and after all an analogy is based upon presented similarities. It is sufficient if the sameness should apply to particular attributes or occurrences found by induction to have similar relationships or consequences." It looks, after all, as if some of our Museums wanted closing. * * * The "popular parts" of the Natural History Museum are to remain open, though it is still felt by the Government that, at a time when the practice of frugality is incumbent upon everybody, the spectacle of stuffed animals may tend to have a demoralising effect upon the young. * * * From _The Evening News_:-- "Our Daily War-time Menu. Fish Pie. Salt Beef. Turnips or Carrots. Baked Potatoes. Banana Pancake. Coffee." This will gratify those who believed that our contemporary's diet consisted largely of brimstone. * * * It is reported from Holland that Germans there are refusing German notes. In the United States however they are still accepted at their face value. * * * It is understood that the Government recruiting authorities, with whose _jeu d'esprit_ all Trafalgar Square is ringing, have definitely rejected a proposed placard that says-- "WILL YOU 'ATE NOW OR WAIT TILL MARCH 8?" * * * The Admiralty has announced that sea-fishing is included among the certified occupations exempted from the provisions of the Military Service Act. The suggestion that the other kind of fishermen should be rejected for psychopathic reasons has been bitterly resented by some of our most persistent anglers. * * * "Many of the men," writes a correspondent at one of the Fronts, "have apparently been without shirts for some time, and consequently the Army authorities, with that kindly consideration which always distinguishes them, have issued to the men a new pair of pants all round." * * *