176 
NATURE NOTES 
NEWS FROM THE BRA.NCHES. 
Bath. — Annual Meeting at Warleigh, June 23. Between seventy and eighty 
members took part in the drive to Warleigh, which was most enjoyable. At 
Warleigh they were warmly welcomed by Colonel and Lady Mary Skrine, and in 
the drawing room, where seats were arranged for the meeting, the business was 
proceeded with. Colonel Skrine being in the Chair. Those present included 
General Coningham, Major G. R. Edgell, Mr. M. H. Scott, the Revs. H. B. 
Barry, G. L. Hallett Mr. E. J. Appleby, Mr. W. F. Gould, Mr. G. Norman 
(Hon. Treasurer), and Mr. William C. Elwood (Hon. Secretary). 
Opening the meeting. Colonel Skrine e.’cpressed, on behalf of Lady Mary and 
himself, the pleasure it gave them to see them all there on that occasion. It 
was very gratifying to see such a large party, as it showed that the Society was 
making progress. He referred to the great good the Society was able to do in 
encouraging and inculcating an appreciation of the beautiful country around, and 
in teaching kindness to wild animals. He commented also on the extraordinary 
lameness of wild birds, which he had himself observed, compared with what it 
was some years ago, and remarked that one thing the Society should teach them 
was the preservation of wild flowers and wild birds. 
The Balance Sheet, submitted by Mr. Norman, showed that the year com- 
menced with a balance at the bank of £i<) los. 8d., and a balance in hand of 
£10 93. 3d., a total balance of £^<) 195. iid. Subscriptions amounted to 
j^34 I2S., and a sum of £2 its. 6d. accrued from lectures, bringing the receipts 
up to £%’] 3s. 5d. The items on the expenses side included £20 7s. id. for 
printing, &c., a grant of £2 to the parent Society, and a £2 grant to the 
N.S.P.C.A. A balance in hand remained of £'6 12s. 6d., and a balance in the 
bank of ;^39 9s. 8d., or ^^47 2s. 2d. in all. One or two slight extra expenses, 
the Treasurer explained, accounted for this reduced balance. 
The Chairman observed that they ought to thank the Treasurer for all the 
trouble he had taken, but Mr. Norman disclaimed any thanks. The vote of 
thanks, he said, he would pass on to their energetic Secretary, who had really 
done the work of both Secretary and Treasurer. All he himself had to do was 
to appear and read the Balance Sheet. 
That the Bath Branch was progressing in a most satisfactory wav was evi- 
denced by the Annual Report, which was read by the Secretary, Mr. W. C. 
Elwood. The Bath Branch of the Selborne Society was formed in 1887, with 
a nucleus of 45 members, two years after the formation of the parent Society. 
That day they were celebrating the seventeenth anniversary of the birthday of 
the Branch, and the membership now numbered 294. There had been less 
alteration than usual in the composition of the Society during the past year, 20 
members having left, while 31 new members had been elected. The success of 
the series of lectures given during the winter season at the Royal Literary and 
Scientific Institution was alluded to, and that also of the seven interesting 
excursions which had taken place since the last annual meeting, the places visited 
including Vallis, near P'rome (June 27), Chepstow Castle and Tintem Abbey 
(July 18), Wick Rocks (May 14, 1904), Lacock Abbey (May 28), and Cheddar 
and Burrington Combe (June ii), this latter excursion being substituted for the 
one to Caerwent, which Mr. A. Trice Martin had kindly promised to conduct on 
July 9. “ Only one flower,” the Report continued, “ has been added to the 
Bath flora during the past year, Medicago maculata, the spotted medick. Mem- 
bers who botanise regularly in the neighbourhood should endeavour to add to the 
list of the Bath flora which is kept at the Institution.” It was announced with 
regret in the Report that Miss Baily intended to resign the post of District 
Secretary for Upper Kingsmead, which she had so ably filled for a great many 
years. “ Miss Baily,” it was mentioned, “ who is leaving Bath, has always been 
one of the first District .Secretaries to hand in the subscriptions year by year, and 
the Society owes her a deep debt of gratitude for the valuable services she has 
rendered in past years.” Finally, the Report tendered the thanks of the Society 
to the other District Secretaries and those ladies and gentlemen who had con- 
ducted rambles or given lectures or entertained members, or in any w.iy contri- 
buted to the well-being of the Society. 
The report of the Natural History Section, which, in the absence of Miss 
Bryant (Secretary of that Section), was read by Mr. M. II. Scott, mentioned 
