SELBORN/ANA 
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or a pony, or — mimbile dicta — a zebra ! Wlien, however, an 
heroic amateur photographer succeeded in marking down this 
unusual quarry, though the reptile seems singularly well pro- 
tected among the bracken by its markings, its dimensions, as 
represented in a photograph we have received, were sadly re- 
duced ; and it has, we hear, been transferred to the Zoological 
Gardens “ till called for.” 
Wild Bird Protection Orders. — We have recently anim- 
adverted on the damage done to the effectiveness of the law by 
repeated tinkerings ; but the Order for the County of London, 
dated June 27, has already been repealed from Whitehall by one 
dated August 15. By this last. Close time extends between 
January 31 and September i, all birds are protected on Sundays 
in a number of parishes, the eggs of numerous species are pro- 
tected throughout the county, a few species, including various 
Hawks and Swallows, the Chaffinch, and the Wryneck, are 
added to the schedule, and these and some others, such as the 
Blackbird, Cuckoo, Goldfinch, Kingfisher, Lark, Linnet, Night- 
ingale, Nightjar, Owls, Robin, Starlings, Tits, Warblers, Wood- 
peckers and Wrens, are protected throughout the year. This 
list of protected species includes the ” Hedge Sparrow (or 
Dunnock),” but not — as stated in some of the daily papers — the 
Common Sparrow. 
We have also received an Order, dated September i, for 
West Sussex, repealing that of September 21, 1899. By it the 
eggs of certain species, including the Stone Curlew or Thick 
Knee, Dotterell, Goldfinch, Heron, Kingfisher, Kentish Plover, 
Raven, Woodpeckers, Owls, and Wryneck, are protected 
throughout the county; all eggs round the shores of Chichester 
Harbour, and on the reclaimed harbour at Pagham are pro- 
tected ; all birds are protected on Sundays in Midhurst, Petworth, 
Steyning, and some other parishes ; a number of species, in- 
cluding the Thick Knee, Goldfinch, Kingfisher, Wood Lark, 
Linnet, Swallows and Woodpeckers are protected throughout 
the year ; the Buntings, Tits, Warblers, Whitethroats, and 
some others are added to the Schedule, and the Close time is 
extended so as to be from January 31 to September i, except 
as regards certain shore fowl. 
Wild Plant Preserv.ation. — On August 23, Professor 
Boulger gave a lecture to the Royal Horticultural Society at 
their new Hall, on “ The Preservation of our Indigenous Flora.” 
Following to a considerable extent the line of argument adopted 
by him in the lecture reprinted in Nature Notes, vol. xiii. 
(1902), pp. 184-190, but illustrating it with many new American 
and other instances, he dealt first with the natural causes of 
loss or gain to our Flora, such as encroachment by the sea. 
Alluding briefly to reckless disafforestation, with special reference 
to the paper-pulp and wood-alcohol industries and the prevalence 
