/.V THE NEW FOREST 
63 
glad to hear Mr. Mathews’ announcement, and expressed his 
hope that what Mr. Mathews had foreshadowed might come to 
pass. — B irm ingJia in A rgus. 
African Big Game. — We are glad to see that this subject is 
attracting attention both in and out of Parliament. We hope to 
deal with it in our next number, so much of our space this 
month being occupied by New Forest matters. 
Humanitarian League. — In response to a request expressed 
by several members, and in order to afford an opportunity for 
the supporters of the Humanitarian League to become better 
acquainted, it is proposed by the Executive Committee to give 
an “ At Home ” at St. Martin’s Town Hall, on the evening of 
Tuesday, April 18, the day on which the Annual Business 
Meeting will be held. As it is important to cover expenses, it is 
proposed to issue tickets at one shilling each, which will include 
refreshments. 
Primrose Day. — A correspondent writes : — “ As a member 
of the Selborne Society I have been sorry to read frequent 
complaints as to the raiding of woods near London for primroses 
previous to April 19, and I have been wondering if steps could 
not be taken to promote the use of artificial primroses, which 
certainly possess the advantage of not fading. The Flower Girls 
Christian Mission supply well-made primroses at very moderate 
price, and if Conservatives could be urged to send orders for 
button-holes, &c., to the Secretary, ISIr. Groom, 8, Sekforde 
Street, Clerkenwell, E.C., they would be helping a very good 
work, and also aid in some small measure to check the increas- 
ing robbery of our woods of one of their chief spring beauties.” 
A Humane IMonarch. — Perhaps the most salient feature in 
the character of the Czar is his aversion to the needless slaughter 
of animals of any kind. He has recently forsworn the pleasures 
of the chase and the shooting of game, and since his suite, from 
motives of policy at any rate, refrain from indulging in this 
pastime, the beasts and birds in the Imperial demesnes live in 
undisturbed quiet . — Daily Mail. 
IN THE NEW FOREST— SQUIRRELS AT PLAY. 
T was on one of those glorious September mornings of 
the past autumn that I left Southampton by an early 
train for Brockenhurst for the purpose of spending the 
remainder of the day in the New Forest. It was a 
new impression, the locality having all the charm of novelty 
and freshness from the fact of my never having set a foot on 
it before. The long stretch of moorland that has to be crossed 
before entering upon the woodlands or forest proper, with its 
