SELBORNIANA. 
15 
Our correspondent, the Rev. I. E. Page, sends us a pleasant sixpenny book, 
called Walks round Alston — the little Cumberland town of which he is vicar. 
Mr. Page must be a pleasant companion on a country walk ; he has eyes, and 
knows how to use them. His little book has several pretty illustrations, but its 
appearance is entirely spoilt by the fact that the backs of these are used for adver- 
tising purposes ! We hope Mr. Richardson Evans will induce our friend to omit 
this unpleasant feature from his next edition. 
The Rev. J. Frewen Moor has brought together, in a neat little volume, the 
thoughts of various divines and others concerning The Future State of Animals 
(London : Simpkin, 2s.). The absence of an index or a table of contents mate- 
rially interferes with its usefulness as a book of reference, and there is a want of 
system in the arrangement which further detracts from its value. We should like 
to have seen fuller extracts from such earlier writers as St. Augustine, who, if we mis- 
take not, favoured the view, and we could have spared some of the extracts from 
present-day ecclesiastics in order to make room for the full text of John Wesley’s 
sermon on the subject, which many years ago we transcribed in its entirety. The 
Rev. W. R. Tate may be added to the number of clergymen supporting the view ; 
a paper from him was published in the Magazine of the High Wycombe Natural 
History Society, for October, 1868. 
SELBORNIANA. 
A Seasonable Appeal. — The New Year being a time of good resolutions, 
it may not be inopportune to make a special appeal to Selbornians to resolve to 
increase their efforts both in furthering the objects of the Selborne Society and in 
making its existence known to as many as possible. It cannot yet be that our 
Society embraces every sympathiser with its objects, and until it does there is 
work for its members to do. If each would determine to obtain at least one new 
member, not only would our number be doubled, but the outside influence of the 
Society would be immensely increased. Something more than paying our sub- 
scription and reading Nature Notes is necessary if we are to decrease the evils 
which we are banded together to combat ; there must be individual effort, and in 
direct ratio to this will our Society grow and prosper. Let us recollect that each 
new member opens up a new sphere of influence with possibilities incalculable, 
but if it is only the means of saving one flower from destruction, one animal from 
torture or death, something material has been accomplished. 
And there is other work — beyond increasing the number of members — waiting 
to be done. It is impossible to walk through urban streets or rural lanes without 
seeing instances of man’s abuse of his power over the life beneath him — often 
thoughtlessly, perhaps ; but it is our duty to remove such an excuse. If the 
wrong is done through ignorance we can try to throw light in dark places, and, 
above all, we can do our best to cultivate in ourselves and those with whom we 
come in contact that kindly feeling towards animals which, if universal, would 
make the existence of our own and kindred societies unnecessary. 
Fred. \V. Ashley. 
What the Children did. — Just before the Christmas holidays in 1892, 
I went into the day-school here, and giving the boys and girls a short address on 
birds and their ways, offered two prizes for the best hst, compiled from observa- 
tion, of birds which stay with us in Cumberland through the winter. When 
the holidays were over, the lists were brought in, and, to my surprise, I found 
that nearly sixty had joined in the competition. It was a sight to see those 
papers as the master brought them to me from the children’s hands 1 Some 
were written carefully, in clear handwriting ; others in pencil, the paper having 
been carried in the boys’ pockets till the writing was scarcely legible. Some 
had ransacked books for bird-names, and had put down those of all sorts and 
countries ; while others only recorded the names of those their own eyes had seen. 
Among the competitors were fifty-nine boys and seven girls, their ages varying from 
