133 
NATURE NOTES. 
by their owners.” On the appointed evening twelve competitors presented 
themselves, bringing with them a collection which included three tame rats, 
guinea pigs of several species, a rabbit, two tame ferrets, a dog and a cat, a 
parrot, a frog and a tortoise. The noisy barking of the terrier at each outburst of 
applause on the part of the numerous audience, necessitated his early removal, 
after which, occasional interruptions and irrelevant remarks by the parrot alone 
disturbed the meeting. The papers written by the children varied much in 
length and quality, but each gave some account of the habits and virtues of their 
special pets, which in turn were carried round the room for exhibition, with the 
exception of the frog, which having been brought in a bird-cage, found some 
means of escaping unperceived. Considerable interest was taken in the tortoise, 
said to be fifty-two years old, of whose remarkable intelligence many stories 
were related. 
In addition to the above, encouragement was given to the children to make, 
collections of wild flowers by the offer of a prize for the best exhibit of not less 
than twenty-five species gathered in the neighbourhood. This resulted in the 
finding of seventy-six varieties between April and June, the prize being awarded 
to Gertrude Thorn, aged thirteen years, for a collection comprising sixty-four 
nicely pressed specimens, neatly arranged in a book and correctly named by the 
aid of the Secretary, Mr. R. T. Lewis, F.R.M.S., who is a member of the local 
branch of the Selborne Society. 
W. B. P. A. in Warwickshire.— Mr. Aplin is “ inclined to think the 
Wild Birds’ Preservation Acts have done some good.” I hope it is so, but I fear 
the statement does not apply to this district, the destruction of eggs and young 
birds by boys and fools is enormous. If the “authorities,” wherever and who- 
ever they are, would take the least little trouble to carry out the law, this destruc- 
tion might be largely checked. Thus, police notices both posted up and left at 
houses and cottages, personal warnings on the part of the village policeman, and 
an example or two taken red-handed (a very easy matter), would have a mar- 
vellous effect. Very few villagers have any idea that there is such a thing as a 
W. B. P. A. If the Selborne Society could extend its scope and start a travel- 
ling agent and carry out the above suggestions on its own account great good 
must result. Alfred N. Hopkins. 
Berkswell , Warwickshire. 
The W. B. P. A. in Shetland. — Miss M. Hope, Hon. Secretary of the 
Kensington Branch, calls our attention to the following paragraph in the Pall 
Mall Gazette , which is in refreshing contrast to the apathy in Warwickshire 
described by Mr. Hopkins: — “At the Shetland Sheriff Court a few days since a 
fisherman was fined for shooting four gulls in the island of Unst. This is the 
first case ever tried in these islands under the Wild Birds’ Protection Act, 18S0. 
A correspondent says that, since the threatened raid on the wild birds of Shet- 
land by a Birmingham company, increased interest has been taken there in the 
protection of the innumerable wild birds which breed in the islands. The County 
Council have applied to the Secretary for Scotland for power to extend the close 
time for these birds to August 30th.” 
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 History. 
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 a special meeting of the Council of the Selborne Society, held on June 15th, 
Mr. G. A. Musgrave, who occupied the chair, described what he had done in the 
