WORK OF COUNCIL , BRANCHES, &c. 179 
THE MAGAZINE FUND. 
The Magazine Fund was started by the Editor for the following purposes : — 
(1) the gratuitous distribution of the magazine to public institutions, free libraries, 
working men’s clubs, young men’s and women’s Christian Associations, parochial 
institutes, and similar bodies ; (2) the enlargement of the size of the magazine ; 
(3) the piovision of illustrations. 
In pursuance of the first of these objects, more than 200 copies of Nature 
Notes are gratuitously distributed each month to institutions of the nature des- 
cribed. This has been found to be one of the most efficient methods of making 
widely known the objects of the Selborne Society, and has in several cases been 
the means of adding new members and even fresh branches to the Society. 
The second object has also been carried out by the permanent addition of four 
pages to the magazine. 
It has been possible to accomplish the third object of illustrating our pages 
only to a small extent ; but the manner in which such illustrations have been 
welcomed by our subscribers, shows how desirable it is that they should be much 
more frequently given. In addition to some small sums previously acknowledged 
in Nature Notes, the editor has received the following amount, for which he 
wishes heartily to thank the contributors : — Mrs. Brightwen, £5; Bath Branch 
(per Mr. Wheatcroft, hon. treasurer, £2 ; Ealing Division of the Lower Thames 
Valley Branch (per Mrs. Percy Myles, hon. treasurer), £1 15s. ; per Mr. G. A. 
Musgrave, £1 10; Kensington Branch (per Miss Mary Hope, hon. treasurer) 
IOs. ; Sir James Sawyer, Birmingham, 10s. ; total, .£11 5s. 
The Editor is now obliged to resign the control of this fund as well as of the 
other self-imposed duties of management ; but he much desires that the work that 
has produced such good results should not be allowed to drop. Other friends 
have kindly promised contributions which he hopes they will forward as soon as 
a successor has been appointed to carry on the work of managing the magazine. 
WORK OF CENTRAL COUNCIL, BRANCHES, &c. 
At the last meeting of the Council of the Selborne Society much regret was 
expressed at the loss of Miss Wyatt, who for a considerable time has given most 
efficient aid to the Society as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer of the important 
Rape of Lewes Branch. Mrs. Payne, Hatchlands, Cuckfield, Hayward’s Heath, 
has been elected in her stead. The formation of a new Branch at Malvern was 
authorised. The Rev. F. H. Fowler, Malvern, is the Hon. Secretary. 
The Editor of Nature Notes explained that it was quite impossible for him 
to continue to act as manager, as well as editor, of the magazine ; and asked that 
the suggestions made by him two months before might be put in some more 
distinct form, which should be binding upon members of the Council. In 
response to his request the following resolution was unanimously carried, “That 
this Council recognises the necessity of acting as an actual executive, not merely 
deliberative Committee ; and that the members of the Council, agreeing with the 
suggestion made at a recent meeting, undertake each to give active assistance in 
■some department of the Society’s work. That a copy of this resolution be for- 
warded to each member of the Council not present at this meeting.” 
In spite of this drastic resolution, the Council has not yet been able collec- 
tively to take measures for the carrying out of the responsibility which they fully 
accept. 
The Editor begs to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of several letters 
from individual members of the Council, and other members of the Selborne 
Society, with the kindest wishes that he may be relieved from the pressure which 
has been thrown upon him. The Birmingham and Midland Branch have also 
passed a formal resolution expressing a strong desire that the necessary assistance 
should be given, as the regular and efficient management of the magazine is 
most important in the interests of the Society. 
The Editor wishes to explain to these friends and other members of the 
Society that he does not wish in the slightest degree to shift any responsibility 
from himself to anyone else, but to place the burthen of management on the 
