OFFICIAL NOTICES. 
139 
guard whilst the hens worked, and then they all flew away together to the nest. 
\Ve have noticed them many times since, and they always come together. Is 
this perfect concord and unity of action a peculiar or an ordinary occurrence 
among greenfinches ? 
Oakley, Brill, Bucks. A. M. GREENWOOD. 
Buckbean. — The Welsh name for the Buckbean {Meiiyanthes trifoliata) is 
Ffa’r gors, i.e., Bogbean. Is Buckbean a corruption of Bogbean : if not, what is 
the derivation of this word ? 
Aberystuytli. G. Rees. 
[The older writers (Lyte, Gerard, &c.) use the name Buckbean, not Bogbean, 
of which some have thought it a corruption. Dr. Prior considers Buckbean to 
be derived from the Dutch Bocks-hoonen (Germ. Bocksbohne) as it is considered 
to be a remedy against the scharbock, or scurvy. — E d. N. W.] 
J. G. B. — Field Madder {Sherardia arvensis). Heath Bedstraw {Galium 
saxatile), and Common Speedwell ( Veronica officinalis). You will find it more 
useful to hunt out such very common plants for yourself. 
Mrs. M. — Water Avens {Geum rivale), Goatsbeard [Tragopogon pratensis]. 
Meadow Saxifrage [Saxifraga granulata). 
G. W. — A form of Salix repens, perhaps S. fusca. 
G. B. — Mr. Howard Saunders’s of British Birds (Gurney and Jackson), 
noticed in this Magazine for July, 1890, will probably suit you. Your other 
questions are scarcely suited for discussion in these pages. 
S. J. S. — The suggestion shall be brought before the Council. 
Botanical Pictures. — We have received a further instalment of the 
excellent series of botanical diagrams published by the S.P.C.K., to which we 
made a brief reference in last year’s Nature Notes (p. 202). They are admir- 
ably adapted for the walls of the schoolroom, and their simplicity and accuracy 
make them intelligible to any one who has any acquaintance with our common 
flowers. The dissections of the parts of the flower, if not of the high level and 
minute detail expected by the scientific botanist, are amply sufficient for the 
general public. The diagrams cost only a shilling each ; twenty-four are now ready. 
E. M. C. — The orchis is apparently O. inaculata, but as, in spite of the 
directions which we give every month, it was addressed to the Secretary instead 
of to the Editor, it arrived at West .Square in too withered a state for determination. 
OFFICIAL NOTICES. 
.\t the Meeting of the Council on June ist, Mr. J. L. Otter was re-elected 
Treasurer, and Mr. A. J. Western Secretary for the ensuing year. The follow- 
ing resolution was adopted : “ That the Council desire to express their deep sense 
of gratitude to Mr. Britten for editing Nature Note.s during the year, and to 
]ilace on record their appreciation of the valuable services rendered by him to the 
Selborne Society.” 
The Bath Chronicle of June i6th gives an interesting account of the Annual 
Meeting of the Bath Branch at Claverton Manor, by the invitation of the Presi- 
dent, Mr. H. D. Skrine. P'rom the Annual Report, presented by the Secretary, 
Mr. W. G. Wheatcroft, it is evident that the Branch is doing good work, and Mr. 
Skrine’s record of observations, made by himself and others, confirms this estimate. 
The Society, like most others, has felt the effects of epidemic disease in the 
diminution of the public gatherings of members. The Committee have done their 
best with the funds available to promote the study of natural history and science, 
by making valuable additions to their library. They wish to call special attention 
to a gift, by the Hon. Miss Jervis, of a complete edition of Sowerby’s English 
Botany, with the supplemental volumes and appendix. This valuable work, com- 
prising forty-three volumes, has been bound in half morocco, and placed on the 
.Society’s book shelves. The thanks of the members are also due to Mr. Mitchell 
and Miss Pattison for the gift of valuable books to the Society. The Committee 
have added to their store of books, amongst others, Nicholson’s Alanual of Paheon- 
tology and Manual of Zoology. The Book Committee, having regard to the appar- 
