120 
NATURE NOTES . 
for Saturday, June 20th. Members will leave the tramway terminus. Whip's 
Cross, Walthamstow, at 3 p.m., and walk through the forest to Chingford. 
Junior Section. — This now numbers about eighty members, and an average 
of between fifty and sixty have attended these monthly lectures already given. 
In lieu of the July lecture an excursion is intended to Chingford. 
Lower Thames Valley Branch. — The gradual destruction of the Ait 
above Kew Bridge was again brought forward at the meeting of the Committee 
on May 27th. It was agreed on the motion of Mr. Edward King, that since no 
notice had been taken by the Commissioners of Woods and Forests of repre- 
sentations made them by the branch, Mr. Labouchere who, as a resident in the 
neighbourhood, would probably take an especial interest in the matter, should be 
asked to draw the attention of the House to the state of the Island. As the 
result of Mr. King’s application, Mr. Labouchere, on June 4th, asked the 
Secretary to the Treasury to urge on the Commissioners their obligation as 
trustees of the National property to keep this island in proper condition. A 
sub-committee has been appointed to arrange for a public meeting to be held at 
Kew to consider the subject. The sub-committee is warmly supported by several 
residents at Kew, and hopes shortly to hold a large and influential meeting, which 
will be attended by prominent and representative men from all parts of London. 
The Lower Thames Valley Branch does not seem likely to rust for want of 
work. Two more important matters await their attention at the next committee 
meeting : the disfigurement of Sheen Common by the constant cutting away of 
its turf to supply private gardens, and the recent closing to the public of foot- 
paths in the neighbourhood of Ham House — footpaths which have been open for 
several years. 
A Meeting of the Edinburgh members of the Forth Branch w 7 as held on May 
12th, at the house of the Hon. Sec., Miss Waterston, 45, Inverleith Row. 
Interesting papers were read by Miss M. M. Black on “ The rose and its 
legends,” and by Mr. C. F. Argyll Saxby on “ Geology as it was and is.” 
Reference was made to the recent presentation of the Zoological Societies’ silver 
medal to Mrs. Fdmopston, of Buness, Shetland : the fact being especially 
interesting to the meeting, as Mrs. Jessie Saxby and Mr. C. F. Argyll Saxby, 
who were present, belong to a branch of the same family. The chair was taken 
by the Rev. P. M. Herford. 
NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
To prevent mistake or disappointment, we request attention to the following 
rules : — 
As Nature Notes is published on the 15th of each month, and the amount 
of MS. material received is always far greater than the available space, 
contributions should be forwarded before the 1st of the month in which it 
is desired that they should appear. 
Correspondence intended for insertion in the magazine should be carefully dis- 
tinguished from private correspondence, should be as brief as possible, 
legible, and written on one side of the paper only. 
When it is particularly requested, MSS. not accepted will be returned, if 
stamps sufficient to pay the postage are sent for that purpose. 
Queries on any points connected with botany or zoology will be answered if 
possible, and advice will be given as to the best books for students in 
any department of natural science ; but all questions must be accom- 
panied by the names and addresses of the writers, not for publication, 
unless it is so desired. 
Specimens sent for identification will be named, if sent carefully packed and 
in good condition, but we cannot undertake to return any specimens. 
It is particularly requested that subscriptions and letters connected with busi- 
ness should not be forwarded to the Editor, but to the Secretary of the Selborne 
Society, 9, Adam Street, Adel phi. Editorial communications should be addressed 
to the Rev. Percy Myles, i, Argyle Road, Ealing, W. 
