YOUNG SELBORNIANS. 
227 
ready-made Selbornians, who will take more interest in the work 
of the Selborne Society than members who only subscribe 
because of the importunities of honorary secretaries. 
The first junior section was formed by Miss Wallis, in con- 
nection with the Lower Thames Valley Branch at Richmond : 
the subscription was one penny per annum, which was certainl}'’ 
very small for so important a town. 
In connection with the Clapton (Lower Lea Valley) Branch 
a junior section was formed early in 1891, chiefly through the 
energy of Miss M. C. Barlow, but here the subscription is six- 
pence per annum. The section is managed by a sub-committee. 
The children receive a ticket of membership upon payment of 
their subscription, which entitles them to a monthly lecture, 
made interesting by lantern, drawings or specimens, and an 
excursion in the summer, to which they all pay their expenses. 
A prize is offered on this occasion for the best named and 
arranged collection of plants, and the children are shown how 
and what to pluck without destroying the plant. Other prizes 
are offered by the president of the branch, and a small library 
has been formed for their use. 
The last junior branch formed is at Pinner, where, as 
yet, there is no senior organisation. Here Mr. Louis Davis, 
with the aid of a number of ladies and gentlemen, is endeavour- 
ing to make all boys and girls in the district true followers of 
Gilbert White. They have issued a most enticing prospectus, 
which I would recommend all country branches to ask per- 
mission to reprint. In a few short sentences it explains who 
Gilbert White was, the objects of the Society, and what 
members will be expected to do. The organisation here is 
different from the above, as the meetings are held once a month 
at twelve different “centres,” which are the houses of twelve 
ladies who each give their rooms once in the year. The sub- 
scription is by family ticket costing two shillings ; a small pocket- 
book is given each member in which to make notes, and a library 
for their use has also been started. 
There should be a “junior section” in connection Avith each 
branch : in many cases it will bring members to the senior 
section, for often the children Avill interest parents and friends 
in the Society’s work as no outsider can. 
The amount of subscription should be arranged by the 
local committee according to the means of the children in the 
district. 
I feel assured that the energy displayed by boys in collecting 
birds’ eggs, moths and butterflies, &c., might be transferred to a 
more useful channel by instructing and encouraging them in 
making ohsevvations of animal and plant life instead of wantonly 
destroying it. 
R. Marshman Wattson. 
[The illustrations of this article arc from the prospectus referred to. — Ed. N'.N'.'\ 
