i8 
NATURE NOTES 
Subscriptions. — The Council has pleasure in acknowledging subscriptions 
of greater value than 5s. from the following members : J. H. Bowman, Esq., 
£l IS.; Frederick Crowley, Esq., £1 is.; David Morphew, Esq., £l is.; 
Andrew Pears, Esq., £i is. ; William Whitwell, Esq., £i is. ; Mrs. 
Eden, los. 6d. ; Dr. Johnston Macfie, los. 6d. ; G. S. F. Manton, Esq., 
los. 6d. ; Mrs. Minet, los. 6d. ; Miss Beeching, los. ; W. Warde Fowler, Esq., 
los. ; Thomas Layton, Esq., los. ; R. M. B. Otter-Barry, Esq., los. ; J. 
Rawlins, Esq., los. ; the Rev. E. F. Russell, los. ; M. J. Teesdale, Esq., los. ; 
Miss Alice R. Francis, ^s. 6d. ; R. Boucher James, Esq., 7s. 6d. ; Francis L. 
Berry, Esq., 6s. ; Charles H. Crawley, Esq., 6s. The Committee of the Ealing 
Branch has pleasure in acknowledging a subscription of greater value than 5s. 
from M. W. Hervey, Esq., los. 
Library. — Regulaltons with regard to the borrowing of hooks from the 
Society's Library. Any member of the Society is entitled to borrow one book 
at a time, and to retain it for one month. 
On payment of postage both ways members may receive their books by post, 
but letters can only be dealt with on the days when the Honorary Librarian 
attends at 20, Hanover Square. 
The Honorary Librarian will attend at 20, Hanover Square, from 6 p.m. 
to 6.30 p.m., on the evenings of January 14 and February 18 for the purpose of 
issuing books to members. 
The Honorary Librarian has pleasure in acknowledging the following addi- 
tions to the Library: “A Naturalist’s Calendar, with Observations in various 
Branches of Natural History,” by Gilbert White, 1795; “Natural History of 
Selborne,” Jardine’s Edition, 1836; “Natural History of Selborne,” Jardine 
and Jesse’.s Edition, 1851 — purchased by the Society. “ Natural History of 
Selborne,” World’s Classics Edition, 1904 — kindly presented by William 
Whitaker, Esq., F. R.S. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Birmingham and Midland Branch. -On Thursday, December 6, an 
interesting and instructive lecture was given at “ Westbourne,” Edgbaston, by 
Mr. John Humphreys, F.L.S., entitled “ Flowers and Insects.” The lecture, 
which was illustrated by lantern slides, dealt chiefly with the fertilisation of 
flowers in various ways, viz., by the action of the wind, and by the visits of 
bees, butterflies, moths, (&c. Mr. T. H. Russell, F.L.S., took the Chair, and 
at the close a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the lecturer. 
EXCURSIONS. 
Saturday, November 17. — A visit was paid on this afternoon to the private 
collection of nests and eggs formed by Mr. Robert H. Read, M.B.O. U., at Bed- 
ford Park, W. The specimens were laid out conveniently for inspection, and 
after a general view Mr. Read explained some of their more interesting features. 
He remarked that eggs generally bore a protective resemblance to their surround- 
ings, and pointed out how the eggs of the Thrush and Crow families, and of 
many birds which build in hedges or bushes, are of a greenish tint, whilst those 
of the Terns, Plovers and other eggs laid on the bare shingle, resemble in a 
remarkable degree the pebbles surrounding them. The eggs of Tits, Wood- 
peckers and other birds deposited in holes or covered nests, are white or nearly 
white, no protective coloration being required. There is, however, a wonderful 
variation in the coloration of many species, notably the Guillemot, among large 
birds, and the Tree Pipit among small ones. Mr. Read exhibited olive green, 
white, buff and red eggs of the Common Whitethroat, the Blackcap and the 
Sedgewarbler, and many other variation'. Amongst the Cuckoo eggs were 
spotless blue eggs, and in nests of Redstart and Hedge Sparrow, two purple-red 
eggs of Cuckoo in a nest of a Tree Pipit with eggs of a similar colour, and a 
Cuckoo’s egg in a nest of pure white eggs of Robin. He called attention to a 
tray of abnormal and pigmy eggs of the Common Fowl, and remarked that there 
were similar variations in the eggs of wild birds, especially game birds, and 
pointed out pigmy eggs of Guillemot, Buzzard, Kite, Owl, Pheasant and Giouse, 
down to tiny eggs of the Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blue Tit. In contrast 
to the tray of eggs of Stone Curlew and Oyster Catcher on the bare shingle, were 
