SELBORNIANA. 
195 - 
Mr. Robinson’s volume on Garden Design and Architects' Gardens (Murray, 
5s.) is so beautifully printed and illustrated that our objection to the presentment 
of two reviews in the form of a book is qualified, although not altogether set 
aside. It is a counterblast to the book on The Formal Garden which we noticed 
on p. 73 ; and as we were on that occasion enabled to reproduce a specimen of 
the illustrations, so now, by the courtesy of the author, we are permitted to bring, 
before our readers one of peculiar interest to Selbornians — a picture of Gilbert 
M’hite’s house at Selborne. Mr. Robinson has done as much as any man living 
to improve the taste in gardens, and his utterances are entitled to all consideration. 
M'e cannot help feeling, however, that in these reviews he has been unnecessarily' 
bitter in his criticisms of The Formal Garden and Mr. Sedding’s Garden Craft. 
Each arrangement has its charms — a fact which the illustrations of each book 
make abundantly manifest —and there is room for both. Nothing is gained by 
the use of violent language, and we think that Mr. Robinson has overstepped the 
bounds of moderation and courtesy in his animadversions ; his English, too, 
seems to have suffered in the heat of the discussion. We are all the more 
ready to enter this protest from the fact that our sympathies are mainly with Mr. 
Robinson in the points at issue, and we are sure that his is not one of the “ weak 
cases” in which it is necessary to “abuse the plaintiffs attorney.” Mr. Robinson 
has, as we have already said, done so much to raise the garden to a higher level 
that we cannot but regret the asperity which, in our opinion, disfigures a beautiful 
book. 
Several other volumes stand over for notice. 
SELBORNIANA. 
Sea-birds at Bridlington. — “A Disappointed Visitor” writes the follow- 
ing letter in the Leeds Mercury of August 31st : — “ On revisiting Bridlington 
(,)uay after a lapse of some years, I have been painfully struck by the entire 
absence of sea-birds, which once were such a charm to Bridlington, and instead 
of seeing hundreds of gulls and other seabirds wheeling about close to the shore, in 
happy freedom, I only now see one or two scared-looking specimens flying timidly 
across the bay. 
“ Every evening you may see groups of men, presumably visitors, coming in 
from the boats, with large quantities of shot birds, often far too mutilated to be of 
any use as specimens, and if you go off in a boat you are pretty sure to come 
across headless birds, or worse still, winged and maimed living birds, left floating 
on the water, slowly and miserably to perish. I can only imagine that those who 
pursue this wanton cruelty are too ignorant to know how absolutely beneath con- 
tempt this vile butchery is, besides being utterly unsportsmanlike. The other 
day 1 spoke to a man who was going out to shoot sea-birds for the sake of their 
plumage, although he admitted that the fashion for wearing wings had disappeared, 
partly owing to the fact, no doubt, that our beloved Princess of Wales has for- 
bidden any hats or bonnets trimmed in this manner to be submitted for her 
approval. The man I spoke to said, quite of his own accord, ‘Well, it is cruel ; it 
would be a good thing if the close time could be extended until September, for a 
great many young birds who are unable to fend for themselves, must perish if the 
old ones are shot now.’ 
“ Does it not occur to people that this wholesale slaughter of sea-birds, besides 
disgusting naturalists, and many who do not care for this so-called sport, is 
depriving this part of the coast of one of its most famous attractions. I would 
most strongly urge that petitions be drawn up and signed, to extend the close 
season until September, when the young birds would have more chance to provide 
for themselves. There must be many of your readers, who are dwelling in the 
large towns, and come to this fine coast for their holiday, who would give their 
willing help in obtaining signatures to such petitions. This would strengthen 
enormously the local efforts, and before another season surely Bridlington will no 
longer be obliged to witness such disgraceful and vulgar cruelty.” 
