24 MAY 1957, Page 25

SPECTATOR COMPETITION No. 380 Set by Allan M. Laing Many

years ago an ingenious versifier trans- posed the nursery rhyme 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star' into scientific jargon, thus:

Scintillate, scintillate, globule vivific; How can I fathom thy nature specific, Loftily poised in the ether capacious, Strongly resembling a gem carbonaceous?

Competitors are invited to translate 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary,' or any other popular, traditional nursery rhyme, into equally and similarly un- nurserylike terms. Prize money: six guineas.

Entries, addressed 'Spectator Competition No. 380,' 99 Gower Street, London, WCI, by June 4. Results on June 14.