SELBORNIANA. 
97 
Lessons from Fields and Lanes, by Mr. G. A. Grierson (York : Bleasdale, is.), 
deserves its sub-title, “ A field-companion for the botanical student.” The 
chapters comprising it were originally written and published with a view to 
a.ssisting the pharmaceutical student, but the author has done well to make them 
accessible to a wider circle of readers. The book is more strictly botanical than 
others of its class, and is commendably free from the errors which they too often 
contain. But the absence of an index, either of terms or plants, is a very serious 
drawback to the usefulness of the little book. 
\Ve have to acknowledge the receipt of two delightful volumes by “A Son of 
the Marshes ” — Annals of a Fishing Village and Within an Hour of London Town 
(William Blackwood & Sons, 7s. 6d. each) ; Walks and Talks of Two Schoolboys, 
and Playhours and Half Holidays, by the Rev. J. C. Atkinson (Macmillan & Co., 
3s. 6d. each) ; Island Life, by A. R. Wallace (Macmillan & Co., 6s.) ; Mary 
Howitt, an Autobiography (Isbister, los. 6d.) We hope to notice these as .soon 
as the many demands upon our space will allow. 
SELBORNIANA. 
Shameful Decision with regard to the “Hilly Fields.” — The 
Lewisham District Board of Works have declined, by a majority of 12 to 10, to 
rescind their former resolution to have nothing to do with the purchase of the 
“ Hilly Fields.” All the arguments in favour of saving the “ Fields ” that have 
been urged in Nature Notes and elsewhere were employed by a deputation at a 
meeting of the Board at which the vote was taken. This time only f20oo were 
asked instead of the ;^6ooo of the former occasion, but they declined to contribute 
even ;^2000 of the ratepayers’ money towards the purchase. No better comment 
on this shameful decison can be found than in the fact stated by a contemporary, 
that the money which ought to be spent on a means of giving health and happiness 
to their neighbours, is wasted by these unworthy local legislators on their own 
selfish luxuries, in the shape of driving about in carriages and expensive dinners at 
the Crystal Palace. Archibald Clarke. 
A Devoted Dog. — We are indebted to the Rev. F. O Morris, to whom it 
was sent by a correspondent, for the following touching anecdote: — “I think 
I must tell you an anecdote of the affection and intelligence of a dog, such 
as one reads of, but seldom has the opportunity of verifying. The lunxtic .asylum 
in Alton is now in the hands of Roman Catholics, and a young priest who was 
att.ached to the establishment as chaplain has lately died. He had a dog, a sort 
of pug, I think, which was his constant companion and pet. Shortly before he 
died the dog was with him, and licked his face all over. After his death one of 
the Sisters took the dog into the room. He looked at his dear master, set up 
a howl, ran into another room and fell down dead. The touching story was told 
to my husband by the doctor.” The Sisters, in corroborating the above account, 
say, “ Poor little J.ack was a universal pet, and very knowing. He did not die 
for about half-an-hour, and w'as not a pug, but a sort of English terrier.” 
The Spring Snowflake at Charmouth.— I went down to Charmouih, 
near Lyme, in the middle of March, knowing it to be one of the stations for the 
spring snowflake. Through the kindness of a friend I quickly found its habitation 
at Wootton Farm, about two miles from Charmouth. It grows freely in a double 
hedgerow, in a thick clay soil, at least half a mile from any house or garden. I 
ascertained that it had been growing in the same spot for upwards of eighty years. 
Trespassers from Lyme and other places go in the early morning to gather it, 
breaking down the fences and trampling on the corn, and doing other mischief, so 
that the farmer threatens to root up all the plants. Can nothing be done to save 
this rare plant from extermination ? Many of the Charmouth people have removed 
this plant to their gardens, but it does not take kindly to the change ; the flowers 
are small, and the leaves lose their bright dark green glossy appearance. 
E. Pearl. 
