SELBORNIANA. 
113 
written, and the best authorities appear to have been consulted, especially for the 
two last chapters, which deal chiefly with mimicry. In a few cases our author’s 
information will require supplementing by more advanced works, as where he says, 
“ The normal number of distinct rings in all insects is probably thirteen.” It 
strikes us as a little odd to read that pupae “ in many cases recall the condition 
of a child swathed or bound up as in barbaric fashion.” Is Mr. Badenoch aware 
that the most civilised of the continental nations still swaddle their children? 
W. F. K. 
SELBORNIANA. 
Epping: Forest. — The result of a friendly consultation over the question of 
“thinning out” appears to have been decisively favourable to the practice in 
vogue. A good deal of nonsense has been talked for several years past on the 
supposed determination of the Conservators to destroy the virgin woodland, and it 
is to be hoped that this will now cease. The matter is in the hands of competent 
persons, and anyone who is familiar with the Forest, and has watched the progress 
of affairs during the last quarter of a century, must acknowledge that there has 
teen immense improvement during that period. 
On April 30 the Essex Field Club met, by appointment, a deputation from 
the City, and from the Court of Verderers, at Theydon Bois Station. Among 
those present were Sir John Lubbock, Mr. Bryce, M.P., Mr. Andrew Johnston, 
Sir T. F. Buxton, and other Essex worthies. A carriage trip was taken via 
Jack’s Flill, the Wake Arms, High Beech, Lord’s Bushes, to Chingford. The 
party halted at several places where tree-felling had been undertaken. The 
longest halt was made at Monk’s Wood, where considerable removals have been 
effected, and where at present many trees are lying felled. Mr. Buxton explained 
that it was a mistake to suppose that this was a virgin forest, for until within measur- 
able distance of the present time it had been pollarded like the rest of the Forest. 
That system of pollarding had been continual, and the result of the system had 
been to leave spear trees. It was absolutely necessary that some of them should 
be removed, as they had become unsightly and disfigured. Wherever at present 
there were any openings, the Forest was, by a process of nature, renewing itself. 
At Lodge Bushes for years past systematised thinning has been carried out, and 
it was pointed out that at present there is a very luxurious undergrowth, strik- 
ingly different from other portions of the Forest where thinning is now being done. 
Mr. Buxton explained that the Committee hoped by their action in other spots 
to bring the rest of the Forest ultimately up to the character of Lodge Bushes. 
After tea at the Chingford Hotel, the Essex Field Club resolved itself into a 
meeting to deliberate the matter. There was still some little objection remaining 
to the thinning-out process, but several persons present who had started in the 
morning with strong prepossessions against it, frankly avowed that there did not 
seem to have been any excessive clearing, and that there was really nothing to 
find fault with. Professor Meldola expressed his deliberate conviction that there 
was a very marked improvement in the appearance of the forest during the last 
ten or twelve years. The result of the meeting was the passing of the following 
resolution, supported by forty-one members against eight dissentients: — “That 
in the opinion of this meeting the general action of the Conservators in the recent 
thinning has been judicious.” 
This is, in truth, one of those matters that cannot be made the subject of 
decision by an indiscriminate public. Forestry is not a game of play, nor even a 
mere question of taste ; it is a science, and one not understood in this country as 
it should be. The worthy Scotchman (recently deceased) who has been in charge 
of Epping Forest for so many years, was a fairly competent person, and carried 
out the wishes of the Conservators, both as to the preventing of damage and the 
improvement of the woodlands, in a highly creditable manner. The management 
of Epping Forest has given to all those concerned m it an opportunity of putting 
