Notes an.i Comments. 2ii 



aims. Nor can we believe that desire for greater prominence 

 in a new society than was possible in the old could be the 

 cause of any ladies and gentlemen deserting one society to 

 form another with apparently identical aims. But the fact is 

 that two societies now exist to perpetuate the name and work 

 of Gilbert White of Selborne, and, with all due respect to that 

 great naturalist, we consider that one society is sufficient for 

 the purpose, and think that the two organisations would be 

 more likely to carry on his excellent work were they to join 

 forces. 



THE SELBORNE SOCIETY. 



The Selborne Society, founded in 1885, has carried out its 

 work and published its little magazine with great regularity 

 ever since. Last year it adopted the Companies' Act, became 

 ' The Selborne Society, Limited,' the elaborate Memorandum 

 and Articles of Association of which are before us. Apparently 

 the membership is considerable, and the lists of vice-presidents, 

 etc., contain the names of many well-known scientific workers. 

 Recently the Society has taken an interest in popularising 

 scientific lectures. 



THE GILBERT WHITE FELLOWSHIP. 



On April 20th last the ' inaugural meeting ' of the Gilbert 

 White Fellowship was held, and judging from the wealth of 

 printed matter the society has issued it is at present ' going 

 strong.' Before the ' inaugural meeting' a printed list of pro- 

 posed officers, honorary members, rules, etc., was issued, so 

 that the status and character of the Society and its members 

 were fairly well defined before its inception. Among the 

 names we notice several which already appear in the lists of 

 the Selborne Society, so that the new ' Fellowship ' cannot 

 have been formed in ignorance of the existence of the old one. 

 The ' objects ' of the Fellowship are ' To continue the work of 

 Gilbert >A'^hite in the study of Natural History and Antiquities' ; 

 the objects of the Selborne Society are to ' perpetuate the mem- 

 ory of Gilbert White ' and ' to promote the study of Natural 

 History and Antiquities.* But there is not room for two 

 societies having practically one object, and sooner or later 

 one, if not both, must suffer. 



PUBLICATIONS. 



The new Fellowship has elected an ' Hon. Editor ' so that 

 presumably another Selborne Magazine — or some such publica- 

 tion — is on the way. W^ith regard to this it is of moment to 

 notice that in view of the extra cost of printing and scarcity 

 of paper the organ of the Selborne Society will appear less 

 frequently, of smaller size and without a cover. Long articles 

 are to be dispensed with and the detailed programme of ramb- 

 les will be issued as a supplement. This is announced in 



1918 July 1. 



