SELBORNIANA. 115 
even in the case of several of the scheduled birds, the chough for instance ; and it 
contains no provision against the taking the eggs even of our rarest birds. 
R. F. M. 
GrOOd Work. — The Kyrle Society has done excellent work during the past 
year in the promotion of open spaces, and in flower distribution. Space will not 
at present allow us to do more than call attention to the report, which contains 
much matter of interest to Selbornians, and may be obtained from the Hon. 
Secretary, 49, Manchester Street, W. 
A Reasonable Request. — I enclose a cutting from the Echo of April 13. 
It is not asking very much of smokers to refrain from carelessly throwing about 
matches, &c. A great deal of mischief is undoubtedly done by such thoughtless- 
ness. Within the last fortnight I have read of two fires on Hampstead Heath, 
one in the undergrowth of Highgate Woods, and another on Stanmore Common. 
The serious damage caused by the last I dread to behold — some thirty acres having 
been alight, I read — and this, it seems, the result of the deliberate act of one wilful 
being. It is very distressing, and I hope the Selborne Society will not only take 
some notice of such occurrences, but endeavour to prevent them by issuing similar 
appeals to the one I enclose. Harry Sirr. 
“ Would you kindly publish a request to those who propose visiting our heaths, 
commons, and open spaces during the ensuing holidays, to be careful not to throw 
down their pipe-lights, &c., on to the dry grass, bracken, heather, or gorse — as 
the case may be ? Owing to the drought and dry wind, a spark may cause a 
bonfire which cannot be put out ; and already serious damage has been done to 
Hampstead Heath by careless or mischievous visitors. If the people would only 
realise that their own property and pleasure were at stake, and would act as their 
own police, mischief-makers might be deterred, or detected and punished.” 
A Botanical Field Class, under the direction of G. S. Boulger, Esq., 
F.L.S., has been formed for the organised study of plants in the field, the 
excursions being confined to the neighbourhood of London. Two have already 
taken place, those yet to come being Claygate, June 4th ; Rickmansworth, June 
nth; Epsom, June i8th ; Perivale, July 2nd. Prospectuses may be obtained 
from the Editor of the Educational Keviexv, 2, Creed Lane, E.C. 
A Good Example. — Mr. Louis Davis sends us a beautifully printed 
circular addressed to the children of Pinner, who are invited to join the .Selborne 
Society. A small library of books is being formed for their use, and lectures are 
in course of arrangement, the first, on “ Wild Birds and their Habits,” having 
been given in the Parish Hall, on April 30th, by the Rev. H. D. Gordon. Our 
readers will do well to write to Mr. Davis (or his model prospectus. The leaflet 
is also printed in Child Life for May ; in this form it will reach a large circle of 
readers, and will, we hope, be productive of good results. 
Pictures for Schools. — In our issue for December last, w'e called attention 
to the excellent flower-pictures issued by the Art for Schools Association. An 
addition to the series forms part of this year’s publications— a group of garden 
poppies. The size of the picture is 22 in. by 30 ; its price, to subscribers, 2s. , to 
non-subscribers, 3s. The offices of the Association are at 29, Queen Square, W'.C. 
A Bird of Prey. — Under this admirable title Mr. Linley Sambourne 
caricatures the fashionable lady in the guise of a harpy descending upon a help- 
less kingfisher. Whether the “ ladies ” who have already been proof against the 
instincts of humanity, the claims of decency, and the dictates of good sense, will 
be affected by Mr. Punch’s satire, is, we fear, doubtful. The following sentences 
are appended to the picture : “ Despite the laudable endeavours of The Society 
for the Protection of Birds, the harpy Fashion appears still, and even increasingly, 
to make endless holocausts of small fowl for the lurnishing forth of ‘ feather trim- 
mings,’ for the fair sex. We are told that to obtain the delicate and beautiful 
spiral plume called the ‘osprey,’ the old birds ‘are killed off in scores, while 
employed in feeding their young, who are left to starve to death in their nests by 
hundreds. Their dying cries are described as heart-rending.’ But they evidently 
do. not rend the hearts of our fashionable ladies, or induce them to rend their 
