NATURE NOTES. 
140 
Samler, Dr. Norman, and Mr. Wheatcroft, were appointed for this purpose. The 
President then briefly addressed the meeting upon their work during the past year, 
in the course of which he impressed upon the members present the desirability of 
making notes of any observations of their own upon natural history, which would 
tend to make the Society a little more practical. 
It is evident that the Bath Branch, which is, we believe, the senior among the 
numerous sections of our Society, has long practised those methods of social re-union 
which we strongly recommended in our last number. The well-known hospitality 
of the local President, Mr. II. D. Skrine, is liberally extended to all Selbornians, 
and those who have visited his beautiful residence can testify to the kindly spirit 
of welcome which does so much to keep that Branch in its flourishing condition. 
We have received a pamphlet containing the lecture “ Records of a Rookery/’ 
delivered by the Rev. Leonard Blomefield, M.A., F. L.S. We had hoped tO' 
reprint some portions of Mr. Blomefield’s very interesting and valuable address ; 
but the large number of original contributions with which we have to deal, 
renders that impossible for the present. Meanwhile we congratulate Bath on the 
continued health and intellectual vigour of the venerable lecturer. Mr. Blorne- 
Held (better known to many by his former name of Jenyns) is the senior Fellow of 
the Linnean Society, having attained that honour so long ago as 1822. 
Our readers will be pleased to know that at the meeting recorded above, the 
Bath Branch voted £2 to the Magazine Fund for the enlargement and free distri- 
bution of Nature Notes. This fund has rather languished of late, as the 
Editor’s illness has not allowed him to assail his friends with importunate applica- 
tions, as he ventured to do when his health permitted. It is hoped that a full 
account of this fund, with an appeal for further aid, will be given in our next 
number. 
Lower Thames Valley Branch. — It is impossible to keep pace with the 
activity of this Branch, and as only a limited amount of space is available, each 
division of the Society can only have a share. The agitation about the Kew Ait 
(of which a full account is given in another part of this issue), the closing of the 
footpaths at Ham, and other matters requiring Selbornian intervention, is going 
forward with energy, and, it is hoped, will be successful in achieving each of its- 
objects. 
Miss Wallis’ “At Home” at the High School, Richmond, on June 22nd, 
was most successful, considering the terrible weather. Several eminent artistes 
played, sang, and recited to the great delight of a numerous gathering, and the 
only regret of the Selbornians present was that the time flew so quickly in listen- 
ing to these admirable entetrainers that there was not space enough for conversa- 
tion and the interchange of opinions on subjects peculiarly pertaining to our 
Society. 
Clapton (Lower Lea Valley) Branch. — This Branch made their first 
excursion this season on Saturday last, and were joined by a few members from 
the Northern Heights (Hampstead Branch.) The members left Whip’s Cross at 
3 p.m., and walked through the lower part of the forest to Chingford, by way of 
the recently added portion at Hale End, with its picturesque lake forming a 
charming addition to this popular resort. After a tea at the Forest Hotel, a visit 
was paid to the old church of All Saints, the rector, the Rev. A. F. Russell, very 
kindly conducting the party over this ancient edifice. A pleasant walk across 
the fields to Hale End station completed an enjoyable outing. An excursion of 
the junior section will be made to the Forest on July iSth. 
NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
We have been obliged to omit from this number several articles in type,, 
including the “Notes and Queries’” column, several reviews, and the “ Children’s 
Column,” so often postponed, for which we wish to apologise to our youthful 
readers. As an example of the “congestion” from which our columns suffer, 
we may mention that the article which heads the present number, and which 
was written at the special request of the Editor, has been in our hands for several 
months, and that in each number we have vainly endeavoured to insert it. This 
may help to explain to some of our correspondents, who express great surprise if 
their communications are not inserted in the month in which they reach us, how 
useless such complaints are. 
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, Adelphi. Editorial communications should be addressed 
to the Rev. Percy Myles, i, Argyle Road, Ealing, W. 
