OFFICIAL NOTICES, &c. 
39 
OFFICIAL NOTICES; WORK OF BRANCHES, &c. 
The object of the Selborne Society is to unite lovers of Nature for the follow- 
ing purposes : — 
The Prevention from unnecessary destruction of 'Wild Birds, Animals and 
Plants ; 
The Protection of places and objects of Antiquarian Interest or Natural 
Beauty ; 
The Promotion of the Study of Natural Plistory. 
The minimum Annual Subscription (which entitles the subscriber to a 
monthly copy of the Society’s Magazine) is 2s. 6d. 
All particulars as to membership may be obtained from the Secretary of the 
Selborne Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi. 
At the meeting of the Council of the Selborne Society, held on February 2nd, 
Mr. J. L. Otter, Hon. Treasurer, announced that the following contributions had 
been received from the Branches : — Kensington, £5 ; Northern Heights, £1 ns.; 
P'orth, 6s. 6d. ; Rape of Lewes, £4 15s. 3d.; Bolton, 19s. 63d.; Bayswater, 16 s.; 
Nottingham, 8s.; Weybridge, 15s. 4d. ; Clapton, 10s.; Southampton, £1 7s. 6d.: 
Wimbledon, £ 6 10s.; Brighton, £1 10s. ; Chichester, 12s. 6d. ; Tudor, 8s. 3d.; 
Atalanta, 9s. ; Lower Thames Valley, £4 18s.; Birmingham, £2 10s. ; Liver- 
pool, 6s. 
As some misconception seemed to prevail upon the point of the obligation 
of the Branches towards the Society in the matter of contributions, reference was 
made to the rules, and to the minutes of the last annual meeting, and the Council 
decided that, by the constitution of the Society, every Branch is bound to con- 
tribute to the General Fund at least 10 per cent, of their gross receipts, and also 
that if any surplus funds remain after the payment of the annual expenses of a 
Branch, they should be paid to the Trustees of the Society for the general purposes 
of the Society and its Branches. The Hon. Treasurer had prepared for the con- 
venience of the Council a rough balance-sheet, preparatory to that which will be- 
laid before the annual meeting. It showed that in addition to the sums expended 
in local organization, more than ,£330 had been received by the Central Council 
during the year, and spent for the purposes of the Society, leaving still a fair 
balance in hand, in spite of much unusual expense incurred during the past year 
which is not likely to recur at any future time. The operations of the Selborne 
Society were reported as extending in all directions, and the Council look 
forward to a very prosperous year, but beg of all the supporters of the Society 
to do their utmost to secure that result by enlisting new members. 
The annual meeting of the Lower Thames Valley Branch of the Selborne 
Society was held at the High School, Richmond, on Jan. 29th, Mr. Edward King 
in the chair. At the annual meeting, and at the Committee meeting on the pre- 
vious night, the principal subject of discussion was the balance-sheet. Of the two 
divisions into which the Branch is divided, the Richmond Division had received 
£48 7s. id., and expended £49 os. 7d. (including £7 10s. 1 id., the surplus of last 
year paid to the Hon. Treasurer of the Selborne Society), showing a deficit of 
13s. 6d. The Brent Valley (Ealing) Division had received £8 8s. 6d., and ex- 
pended £5 19s. 3d. (including £1 15s. paid, by wish of subscribers, to Magazine 
Fund), leaving a surplus of £2 9s. 3d. Total receipts of Branch, £56 15s. 7d. ; 
expenditure, £54 19s. iod.; surplus, £1 15s. 9d. Attention was called to the 
very large sum spent in expenses of management at Richmond, and the hope was 
expressed that by judicious economy a very large portion of this expenditure 
might be saved to tile Society, and devoted to some more useful purpose. Miss 
Annie Wallis, Principal of the Richmond High School, was appointed Hon. 
Secretary, and Mr. S. F. Higgins, Manager of the London and Provincial Bank, 
Hon. Treasurer. Mr. Anthony Belt was appointed Hon. Secretary for the Brent 
Valley Division, and Mrs. Percy Myles Hon. Treasurer. During the year the 
Richmond Division has lost more than fifty members, and the Ealing Division has 
gained about an equal number, so that the Lower Thames Valley Branch still 
continues superior in numbers to any other section of the Selborne Society. A 
feeling of the greatest confidence was expressed by most of the members that in 
the year to come both Divisions would surpass anything they had done before 
either in activity or increase of numbers. 
In connection with the Lower Thames Valley Branch, a most interesting lec- 
