53 
NATURE NOTES. 
Letters on the subject, by Miss Waterston and Mr. Aubrey Edwards, were 
read at the last meeting of the Council of the Selborne Society, and we are de- 
lighted to learn that the wanton slaughterers of the skua will probably before 
long receive condign punishment for their misdeeds. The Grassholm conviction 
was the greatest boon to southern sea birds that has come to them in recent 
years, and a similar “ Foula ” prosecution would bring equal safety to their 
northern kindred. It increases our respect for the superior sagacity of the 
Scottish folk to be told that there would be no law expenses to the parties pro- 
secuting, as the “ Procurator Fiscal ” or some such official would take the matter 
up. If this be the case, assuredly “ they do these things better in” Scotland. 
Will no one bring in a bill for the establishment of a “ Procurator Fiscal” in 
East Anglia or other places where the Wild Birds Protection Act is, as we are 
constantly assured by our correspondents, a mockery, a delusion and a snare? 
Seagull Shooting at Bournemouth.— When I was at Bournemouth 
last summer the numerous gulls formed one of the most pleasing amenities of the 
place. They followed the steamboats which made excursions to Swanage and 
the Isle of Wight, and were fed by the visitors, who provided themselves with 
food for the purpose. It was indeed a most lovely sight to see these delicate grey 
birds poising themselves in the air and snatching the coveted morsel from the 
waves. Many of them breed in the neighbourhood, and could be seen on the 
cliffs near Poole sitting in security on their eggs, thanks to the Wild Birds’ Pro- 
tection Act ; but now I grieve to find this loving kindness to the birds, leading 
to their greater tameness, has lured many to their destruction. 
There is a flourishing Natural History Society at Bournemouth, and it ought 
to raise its voice against the vulgar barbarity of gull shooting, especially in such 
a case as that of the Bournemouth gulls, who all the summer have regarded men 
as their benefactors. F'ew things could have given more pleasure during my 
visit than the notice in Mr. Burt’s lovely property at Swanage to the effect, “No 
gun or sporting dog allowed on the estate.” His name will, I am sure, be held 
in honour by all Selbornians ; but what a contrast between Bournemouth and 
Swanage. At the time of my visit the rocks in Mr. Burt’s estate were crowded 
with nests of seabirds, which were constantly flying to and fro from the sea to 
the rocks with food for their young, and the sea seemed positively to sparkle with 
the number of guillemots on its surface. Simply from a mere commercial point 
of view, it is a serious question whether Bournemouth can afford to part with any 
of its amenities. It is grievous enough to see the growth of the place over the 
beautiful heaths, but this is inevitable ; still Erica ciliaris near Bournemouth 
will soon become extinct, as St. Dabeoc’s heath, Menziesia polifolia, has done. 
It grew there but lately, the only locality in England, and now there is a house 
on the spot. What is really wanted is a healthy public opinion to frown upon 
all who ruthlessly destroy one of the greatest ornaments of the seaside, whether 
it is done in pure wantonness or to minister to the meretricious taste of a 
thoughtless milliner. 
Beckenham. J. Jenner Weir. 
[Is Mr. Weir sure about the Menziesia ( Dabeocia ) polifolia ? We have never 
seen specimens except from Ireland.] 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Names of Ferns, &c. — The plants sent by Miss Alice Baily, Bath, are 
as follows : — (i) Cheilanthes pulchella ; (2) Not oc hi etna mar ant a ; (3) Forskah/ia 
tenacissima ; (4) Ceterach off c inarum ; (5) Nolochla-na vellea ; (6) Cheilanthes 
fraqrans ; (7) Adiantum reniforme ; (8) Selaginella denticulata ; (9) Ceterach 
officinarum ; (10) Ceterach aureuni ; (11) Gymnogravime leptophylla. The speci- 
mens have been returned as requested ; but we cannot undertake to do this in all 
cases. See Notice to Correspondents. 
Peacock Butterfly. — Having seen that you are glad of notices of early or 
out-of-season appearances of birds, insects or flowers, it may perhaps interest 
