NATURE NOTES. 
slides. On December 14th, ^Ir. R. T. Lewis gave a lecture, 
similarly illustrated, on “The E}’es of Insects.” On January 
gth, l\Ir. W. H. Harris will lecture on “ Bees and their Ways,” 
at the Athenaeum, and on January nth, IMr. R. C. Barrett 
addresses the meeting on “ Fur, Feathers and Scales : ” on this 
occasion there will be an exhibition of microscopes and objects 
of natural history. On January 25th and 26th, there will be an 
exhibition of photographs of places of interest — buildings, 
historical residences and scenery of the Thames Valley. Later 
in the year, Air. C. H. Wright, of the Kew Herbarium, will give 
“A Talk on Mosses,” and Professor F. Wh Oliver will lecture 
on “ Natural History Jottings in the Alps.” It will be remem- 
bered that during the summer this Branch organised a successful 
series of excursions in which members and other branches took 
part. 
Quite a different line of operations, equally excellent in its 
way, is that laid down by the Rev. Prebendary Gordon, who 
edits a “ Selborne Column ” in the West Sussex Gazette. This 
contains varied and interesting information on points connected 
with natural histor}', largely, of course, of a local character. We 
cannot help thinking that many editors would be glad to secure 
a column of this kind, and there must be man}^ Selbornians in 
different parts of the country who would be capable of conduct- 
ing such a column ; and we cordially commend this example to 
the consideration of our members. Prebendary Gordon, we 
observe, has also given a lecture at Arundel on “ Vvhld Bird 
Life,” which was largely of a Selbornian character. 
The distribution of suitable literature is another field of 
labour which has been comparatively little worked. The bound 
volumes of N.^ture Notes should be found in all our school 
libraries, clubs and free libraries ; and, with suitable volumes 
of the same class, might be employed largely as prizes. We are 
extremely anxious to give a list of books suitable for a Selborne 
Library, which we should like to see part of the machinery of 
each branch ; and we shall be grateful to any one who will under- 
take the formation of such a list. It should contain books 
which are fairly cheap, popular in style, and thoroughly accurate 
in every particular. 
The Clapton Branch of the Society issues an excellent form 
for the registration of observations of natural phenomena, of 
which Mr. R. M. Wattson, 14, Narford Road, Upper Clapton, 
N.E., will, we doubt not, suppty a specimen on application. 
The practice of recording year by year the arrival and departure 
of migratory birds, the leafing and flowering of trees and other 
plants, the appearance of insects, and the like, is an excellent 
one, admirably calculated to further the habit of observation 
which is so essential to the would-be naturalist. We learn that 
it is proposed to form a “ Rambling Club,” in connection with 
the Clapton and Northern Heights Branches, which will hold 
field meetings during the summer. 
