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Nature Notes : 
THE SELBORNE SOCIETT'S MAGAZINE. 
No. 205. JANUARY, 1907. Vol. XVIII. 
EDITORIAL. 
r the outset of a new year it is only fitting that we 
should express the hope that everyone of our many 
KwXl readers will find it a most happy one. With the be- 
ginning of the eighteenth volume of Nature Notes, 
an opportunity occurs for very briefly discussing the Magazine, 
and this perhaps may best be done in connection with the aims 
of the Selborne Society to which it belongs. 
It should, however, be pointed out to begin with, that the 
Editor is, practically speaking, entirely in the hands of his con- 
tributors, and moreover, unless he specially invites and, what is 
much more difficult, secures exactly the material he would like, 
he can only make a selection from the contributions which reach 
him in the ordinary way. 
No one could with truth deny that a very great deal is done 
by Nature Notes “to promote the study of Natural History,” 
which is now the first object of the Selborne Society. On the 
other hand, are the questions of the destruction of animals and 
plants, the wearing of birds’ plumage, and the preservation of 
places of natural beauty or antiquarian interest, quite so much in 
evidence as they might be ? Do the Members of the Society 
make such matters public through the Magazine to the extent 
that is possible, or is the help of the Society asked for, in all cases 
where it would be found useful ? 
Perhaps the fact that there are special columns devoted to 
“Natural History Notes” and to “ Natural History Queries,” 
while other subjects are dealt with together under “ Selborniana ” 
in unsigned paragraphs, may have something to do with the 
difference. It should be said, however, that if those readers who 
are interested in the various branches of work which come 
within our scope would communicate with the Editor, there is 
no reason why other columns should not be inaugurated. 
