130 
NATURE NOTES 
The Report of the Natural History Sections, which may be looked upon as 
the working branch of the Bath Branch, is as follows ; There have been five 
meetings. The first paper was by Mr. Appleby, “ Reminiscences of the Flowers 
of 1902 as Seen through a Stereoscope.” The second was by Mr. W. C. Elwood, 
“Notes on the Bath Flora” ; and the third was by Miss Wheelwright, “ Intro- 
duction to the Study of the Mosses.” Since Christmas, 1903, there have been 
only two meetings, when the Rev. II. II. Winwood kindly took the section 
members round the geological rooms of the Museum ; and again when Miss 
M. F. Heaven read a paper on the “ Life History of the Gnat.” The branch 
consists of sections for the study of — Section B, birds ; .Section F, flowers ; 
Section I, insects. It is only by the careful and minute study of Nature that 
we can fully enter into the spirit of the Selborne Society. 
Birmingham and Midland. — There has been a large increase in the number 
of members, which, it is hoped, denotes an increasing interest in the aims and 
objects of the Society ; and the (-ommittee would welcome any suggestion by 
which its usefulness might be e.xtended. 
A very successful Lecture was given on March 12 by Mr. Richard Kearton, 
entitled “ Wild Nature’s Ways.” The Lord Mayor, who is President of the 
Branch, kindly granted the free use of the Town Hall, and presided on the 
occasion. The floor and great gallery were filled with children, numbering about 
1,400, from seventy of the Elementary Schools of the city. The head teachers were 
also invited, and the side galleries were reserved for members and friends. 
Upwards of 1,300 of the leaflets, “Spare the Birds and the Flowers,” were 
distributed in connection with the Children’s Country Holiday Fund, through 
the kindness of the Country Correspondents, thus reaching about forty of the 
country homes. 
The Secretary was enabled, through the courtesy of one of the Country 
Correspondents, to arrange a Selbornian walk with the girls who were spending 
their holiday at Alcester, and endeavoured to interest them in the flowers and 
other objects of Nature during their stay in the country. The Committee feels 
that there is great scope in this direction for promoting the love of Natural History 
in the young ; one advantage being that the children are already on the spot, 
so that there is very little •difficulty in making suitable arrangements for the 
ramble, and little expense incurred. 
In the hope of inducing the members to take a more active interest in the 
Society, the Committee has arranged for Lectures to be given from time to time 
on Natural History subjects. The first of these was given on November 17, by 
Mr. T. II. Russell, on “ Moss-Life,” when upwards of a hundred members and 
friends were present. 
All members of tbe Selborne Society must regard with aversion the apparently 
increasing desire for feather ornamentation. One of our local Vicars, in a recent 
sermon, characterised those ladies who wore aigrettes in their hats or bonnets 
as either ignorant or uncivilised ; rather strong terms, certainly, but not very 
far from the truth ; and your Committee trusts that the members of this Branch 
will do their utmost to put a stop to this inconsiderate practice. 
The state of the finances is very satisfactory. 
Clapton. — The syllabus prepared for the season 1903-1904 has been duly 
carried out, and your Committee has the pleasure to record that on the whole 
the meetings have been slightly better attended. The following is a list; — 
1903. 
Oct. 17 
Nov. 21 
*Dec. 19 
1904. 
Jan. 16 
*Feb. 20 
March 19 
“ Bog Plants.” C. Nichokson, F.E.S. 
“ A Homely and Unscientific Chat on Shells.” Miss A. .S. 
Philpott. 
“ Snap-shots in Belgium and Brittany.” C. E. Allnutt. 
“The Cause and Prevention of Decomposition.” J. F. 11 . 
Gilbard, F.I.C., F.C.S. 
“ Slones of English History.” R. Marshman Waltson. 
Social livening and Annual General Meeting. 
With Lantern Illustrations. 
