200 
MATURE NOTES. 
Threatened Extermination of Elephants.— This well-known and 
sagacious animal is fast becoming extinct, owing to the ruthless slaughter which 
is carried on for the sake of its ivory. The elephant possesses almost every attribute 
that can render it useful to mankind. It is strong, persevering, and so docile that 
it may be trained to almost any service ; and except during one part of the year is 
not, if unattacked, dangerous. Indeed to enumerate the services of these animals 
would be impossible ; one single elephant performs more work than six horses. 
They are employed in carrying burdens on their bodies, round their necks, and 
even by the means of a rope in their mouths ; they load a boat with amazing dex- 
terity, drag beams, remove obstacles, and even may be seen to propel wheels. 
Notwithstanding all the uses to which this animal may be put, terrible cruelties 
are committed in hunting it. They are taken alive in pit falls and then cruelly 
slaughtered ; pursued individually by two hunters, one of whom disables him by- 
dividing the tendons of his foot with a blow whilst his companion attracts the 
animal’s attention ; sugar-canes are impregnated with poison — in fact no device 
is too cruel to use against them. These cruelties are committed in order to meet 
the constant demand we make for ivory. The demand is fast exceeding the 
supply, and before many years are over the elephant will be as extinct as the 
mammoth. Is not the elephant an animal that ought to come under the protection 
of the Selborne Society ? And could we not, by each individually refusing to pur- 
chase its ivorv, do some little to decrease the demand for it? 
M. V. M. 
Retribution. — Many of the sheep runs on the hills of Dumfriesshire have 
been invaded by hordes of mice. The hills have been in many places riddled by 
the vermin, and large stretches are literally swarming with them. They are much 
larger than ordinary field mice, approaching almost to the size of fairly grown 
rats. To the grass the mice have done almost incalculable injury. They tear 
the plants up from the roots, thus rendering further growth impossible. The 
plague is attributed to the destruction of the wild birds which prey- on such 
vermin, these birds being mercilessly shot and trapped by the keepers on the 
ground that they destroy the eggs and young of grouse and other game birds. — 
Pall Mall Gazette , July 3rd. 
Protection of Commons. — The Committee of the Bromley District 
Common and Footpaths Preservation Society are strongly endeavouring to stop 
the absorption for private use of the portion of West Wickham Common which 
still remains unbuilt upon. West Wickham Common, which adjoins Hayes 
Common, contained originally seventy-three acres, and is one of the most 
beautiful commons in West Kent. Ten years ago the greater portion was con- 
verted to building purposes, and attempts have been made at various times to 
enclose the remaining portion — now only about twenty-five acres — by low fences, 
which, however, have been no practical impediment to persons who wished to 
use the common. But last year a strong unclimbable spiked iron fence was 
erected, preventing easy access to a large portion of the common as set out on the 
ordnance and tithe maps, and the committee having taken legal opinion are 
advised that the proper way to secure the preservation of the common to the 
public is to apply to the Board of Agriculture for the land to be put under a 
Board of Conservators, whose duty it would be to preserve the common in its 
natural state for the public benefit in perpetuity. This course has been adopted, 
and the committee have authorized their solicitors to make the necessary deposit 
of about ^50 with the Board of Agriculture to meet the Board’s expenditure, 
but before tile matter can be completed it is requisite to raise about .£500, and an 
appeal is being made to obtain this sum. — Daily Ne-.vs. 
Birds in Bonnets. — The fight against birds in bonnets is not confined to 
England. A number of German ladies, notwithstanding the failure of an earlier 
society with the same object, have started a new league under the title of the 
“ Deutscher Bund gegen den Vogel-Massenmord fur Modezwecke.” The German 
society, like the English, has a Duchess as president— the Duchess of Mecklenburg. 
For all we know, womanly tenderness and good sense may be starting a similar 
crusade in other countries, so that in these days of international congresses for all 
