SELBORNIANA. 
The Annual Soiree. — A full report of the Soiree of April 
26 will appear in our June number. 
-VuTOGRAPH Letter or Gilbert White : — 
“ A copy of the first edition of “The Natural History of Selborne ” sold on 
Saturday last by Messrs. Sotheby, fetched jC^ 4 - It was at one time in the 
Kowfant library, and had Locker’s Jester book-plate. Inserted in it was half 
of a folio autograph letter of the author addressed to his niece, ‘ Miss White, 
at Thomas White's, Esq., at South Lambeth, Surrey,’ and dated June 18, 1783. 
This letter, which is not referred to by Bell or Holt- White, is chiefly concerned 
with private matters, but the author informed his favourite, Molly, that he had 
lately found many of the bird’s-nest orchis (Ophrys nidus-avis) in full bloom.” — 
Field, March 30, 1907. 
Hasle.mere Museum Cjazette. — We much regret to learn 
that this excellent magazine is compelled to suspend its publica- 
tion until January next, owing to the continued ill health of 
Mr. Swanton, the able curator of the Haslemere Educational 
Museum, upon whom the principal labour of the production of 
the Gazette has fallen. We trust that this rest may completely 
restore Mr. S wanton’s health. 
The Starling and the Fruit Crops. — The following para- 
graph appeared in the Birmingham Daily Post for April 5 : — 
“Some particulars are furnished in the Annual Report of the Lydney and 
District Farmers’ Club as to a scheme lately adopted, having for its object the 
extermination of certain birds which have earned the character of being destruc- 
tive to farm crops in general, and particularly in respect to bush fruit. Some 
extraordinary figures are given. A number of prizes, from a sovereign down- 
wards, were offered agricultural labourers and others, with the view to rewarding 
those of them who could destroy the greatest number of these feathered thieves, 
the hedge sparrow and the starling being regarded as the chief sinners. Alto- 
gether during last year the total number of heads sent in reached 2,642. There 
was a provision that nests might be robbed, and in that case five eggs were 
counted as equal to one head. Notwithstanding this slaughter, disappointment 
was expressed that it had not been much larger. The report went on to declare 
that the starling, though it still had many admirers, had of late years seriously 
deteriorated in its habits, and was now regarded as a most destructive bird to 
young growing crops of fruit, which seasons ago it did not touch. With the view 
to encouraging greater enthusiasm among the destroyers of the birds the club 
has resolved in future to pay 3d. per score heads brought in, with a champion 
prize of 10s. to the individual who shall succeed in ‘grassing’ 800 or more.” 
To this a correspondent, signing himself “ Selbornian,” rejoins 
as follows : — 
Sir, — I was sorry to read in this day’s Daily Post of the scheme of the 
Lydney and District Farmers’ Club for the extermination of certain birds sup- 
posed to be destructive to farm crops, and especially of the two above-mentioned 
birds. 
Fiist, as to the starling. The Rev. J. G. Wood, the naturalist, tells us: 
“ The common starling is one of the handsomest of our British birds, the bright 
mottlings of its plumage, the vivacity of its movements, and the elegance of its 
form, rendering it a truly beautiful bird. The food of the starling is very varied, 
but consists chiefly of insects. These birds have a habit of following cows, sheep, 
and horses, fluttering about them as they move for the purpose of preying upon 
the insects which are put to flight by their feet. The starlings also perch upon 
the backs of the cattle, and rid them of the parasitic insects that infest them. 
It is a voracious bird, the stomach of one having been found to contain more 
