SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 197 
after which ten rising naturalists were admitted as Associates of the Selborne 
Society under Rule 24. 
The following officers of the Branch were then nominated and appointed ; 
G. J. Thompson, librarian ; E. K. Watkin, treasurer ; and E. Gibliens, secretary. 
.\t the meetings of the Branch, papers on natural history will be read and 
discussed. A series of nature study rambles are being arranged, and by the help 
of adherents, it is hoped that lectures by eminent naturalists will be arranged for 
the winter months. 
On Friday night, August 5, a very good meeting of associates was held at 
Brunswick Hall, when an interesting paper was read by the President of the 
Branch, Mr. C. M. Hall, entitled “An Introduction to the .Study of Fishes,” 
which was much appreciated by those present. Mr. Hall, after giving a naturalist’s 
definition of a fish, gave black-board demonstrations of their anatomy, pointing 
out the various types of fins in the class, with their uses, and showed the different 
forms of scales to be met with. He said most of the senses in fishes were acute, 
especially those of seeing and smelling, but considered that the sense of taste was 
blunt, which deci.sion he arrived at by examining the bony nature of the tongue 
and palate of a fish. He believed hearing to some extent existed in fishes, and 
quoted Frank Buckland and other authorities on this point, in addition to his own 
observation of fish in his own .Aquaria. He advised those who wished to study 
the natural history of fishes to keep aquaria, as that was the only means of studying 
the habits of those animals, which, living in water, were almost entirely shut out 
from observation except by means of seeing them in a well-managed tank. 
After the reading the following questions, amongst others, were asked by the 
members and replied to : “ What are the causes of fish changing colour ? are there 
any permanent changes of colour in fish ? what advantage is gained by the chub 
being able to rise rapidly to the surface ? why has a perch ctenoid scales and a 
carp cycloid scales ? does a fish change colour with age ? is pain very acute in 
fishes?” To the latter question Mr. Hall replied in the affirmative, although he 
agreed that it was more acute in some parts of the body than others. 
It was announced that on the 19th inst. Master Garnett Thompson would read 
a paper on “ English White Butterflies.” 
Hampstead, July 20. — By special permission of the Earl of Mansfield 
(Vice-President of the Society) the members of the Hampstead Branch and 
their friends enjoyed the privilege of a visit to his lordship’s grounds at Ken- 
wood. Several prominent Selbornians from outside were also present, and when 
heads were counted it was found that Mr. James E. Whiting, Hon. Sec. to the 
Branch, who acted as guide, and whose knowledge of the estate is quite remark- 
able, had a following of a hundred. 
It was about a century and a half ago that Kenwood came into the possession 
of the present owner’s ancestor, the famous Lord Mansfield. At the time of the 
Gordon Riots the house narrowly escaped destruction. Lord Mansfield’s residence 
in Bloomsbury Square had been burned by the rioters, and the signal was given 
to march to Kenwood, there to complete the mischief. But, thirsty from their 
journey, the mob stayed at the Spaniards Inn to refresh, and so potent were the 
libations and so freely were they served, that the quick-witted landlord had time 
to invoke the aid of a detachment of Horse Guards, who were discovered barring 
the way when the drunken or half drunken ruffians bethought themselves that it 
was time to finish their mission. It is related that awed by the presence of the 
military they returned in disorder to London, without having carried out their 
intention. 
Though located so near the Metropolis, Kenwood is noteworthy for its air of 
seclusion. Even sounds that are intrusive, such as railway whistles and the hum 
of trains, hardly fail to shake the feeling, so entirely does the barrier of woods 
exclude the outside world. By the mansion is the old time garden, now a blaze 
of colour, calceolarias being especially prominent in their yellow blooms. Near 
by is the superb lime avenue than which, so far as it extends, there is probably 
little finer in the country. A variegated elm, powdered so to speak with snow, 
among so much that was green, enlisted a good deal of attention. A circuitous 
route to the wood was taken, and here was pointed out Maianthemum bifolium, 
a rare growth in England. The badgers’ burrow was visited, and the huge pile 
of sandy loam around gave evidence of their excavations. 
