NATURE NOTES 
1 66 
Has entered, by the sturdy oaks unfelt, 
But to its gentle touch how sensitive 
Is the light ash ! that, pendent from the brow 
Of yon dim cave, in seeming silence makes 
A soft eye-music of slow-waving boughs. 
Powerful almost as vocal harmony 
To stay the wanderer’s steps and soothe his thoughts.” 
Many points in this most beautiful part of a beautiful district 
are filled with associations with the poetry of Wordsworth, and 
we hope and trust that rich and poor alike will support the 
Council of the Trust in securing this invaluable possession for 
all time for the nation. 
Wild Birds Protection Orders. — An Order has been 
issued by the Home Office, dated June 27, for the county of 
London, extending the close time from January 31 to September 
I, prohibiting the killing or taking of wild birds on Sundays in 
many parishes, protecting the eggs of many species, and protect- 
ing many species of birds throughout the year. This last list 
includes the goldfinch, kingfisher, linnet, robin, owls, tits, 
warblers, woodpeckers and others. A similar Order, dated July 
7, has been issued for the county of Wilts, protecting all birds 
on Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day in Bradford, 
Salisbury, Amesbury and Warminster and extending the close 
time except as regards wild duck and snipe. 
Wild Plant Protection. — The Editor of Nature Notes 
has been asked to lecture on this subject to the Royal Horti- 
cultural Society. The lecture will be delivered in connection 
with the Society’s usual fortnightly show, to which non-fellows 
are admitted on payment of a shilling, at the new Royal Horti- 
cultural Hall, Vincent Square, Westminster, at 3 p.in. on 
Tuesday, August 23. 
WASPS’ NESTS AND A SEQUEL. 
HE sight of a wasps’ nest in a gooseberry bush does not 
invite even the most ardent naturalist to make very 
close investigations, and when we arrived at our 
summer cottage in Scotland, and found our favourite 
gooseberry bush, with its load of golden fruit, in possession of 
the family Vespida, we at once consulted the villagers as to the 
best way of ousting the usurpers. The suspended nest looked 
like a Chinese lantern of greyish hue, the exit and entrance at 
a hole in the base. As we watched from a distance, we could 
see troops of wasps entering and leaving the colony at intervals. 
In accordance with local custom the nest w^as shot at, and so 
the papery palace fell shattered to the ground. Many of the 
