132 
NATURE NOTES 
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SELBORNE SOCIETY. 
The Annual Meeting and Conversazione of the Selborne Society, which was 
held in the Society’s new rooms, at 20, Hanover Square, \V. , on the 30th ult., 
proved to be one of the most successful and enjoyable meetings yet held. About 
400 members and friends were present, and the business meeting over, these 
found ample employment in looking at the curious and interesting exhibits lent 
by Mrs. Brightwen, Mr. Ashley and others, and the microscopes kindly exhibited 
by members of the Royal Microscopical and Queckett Societies, and in listening 
to the delightful music provided by Mr. Coward. 
Sir John Lubbock, the President, having taken the chair, the report for the 
past year — copies of which were circulated in the room — was presented by the 
Secretary and taken as read. 
The Earl of Stamford, in moving the adoption of the report, said it might be 
a matter of interest to the Society, in connection with what he had said last year, 
to know that he had happily secured the letters to Gilbert White from his most 
intimate friend. They covered almost the whole of his life. They were now 
being looked through, and if it was found practicable that they should be given 
to the world he should endeavour to do so as soon as possible. The letters were 
220 in number, and were of extreme interest, perhaps not so much from the general 
point of view as on account of their simple cordial affection. 
Mr. Wakefield seconded the adoption of the report in the spirit of one who 
believed the first duty of a critic to be to indulge in the noble exercise of praise. 
The report showed that the Society had done a great deal during the year. He 
expressed his sympathy with the proposals to set up a monumental tablet near to 
the grave of Gilbert White, and to give to the village of Selborne a pure water- 
supply. As to the increased subscriptions, he thought members got their full 
money’s worth in the magazine Nature Notes. As instances of the need of 
such activities as theirs, he alluded to the sad extermination of kingfishers and 
woodpeckers at Richmond. 
Mr. Wattson moved to abolish the entrance fee for membership of the Society. 
This having been seconded by Mr. Western was agreed to unanimously. 
Mrs. Brightwen in rising to respond to this vote was received with hearty 
applause. She expressed her belief that the promotion of the study of natural 
history would make a very great addition to the happiness of life, especially 
among young people ; and as an instance of what might be done in National and 
Board Schools she mentioned, with approval, a series of pictures of birds, issued 
by the Christian Knowledge Society, and Miss Carrington’s book, A Narrow, 
Narrow IVorld. She found herself that she could not go into her garden wdthout 
seeing something of new interest. Lately she had been engaged in training a 
young brown owl ; and she had transported some of the caterpillars of the 
peacock butterfly from Leith Hill, but the scorpion fly had got at these. Wonder- 
derfu! little lives were being lived in every garden that none knew anything about. 
She was never stung by wasps of any kind because she was never unkind to them. 
She had lately tended a little whitethroat, and it had become the tamest little 
creature she ever knew ; she had taught it to go hawking after flies and spiders as 
she directed it. It should be their aim to cultivate a knowledge of nature and to 
teach poor children not to destroy, and rich children not to collect so much as to 
observe. 
President’s Address. 
Sir John Lubbock said : In the agenda paper I see that the next part of the 
programme is an address from the President, but I am happy to understand that 
you do not expect one of any length. In the first place, I beg to assure you how 
greatly I feel the compliment you confer upon me in electing me to the office of 
President of this Society. I should feel it under any circumstances a great 
honour, sympathising so heartily as I do in the objects of the Society, and 
feeling how important it is that if we are to retain the interest and beauty of 
animal and vegetable life we .should take all possible steps to secure its preserva- 
tion. I feel it all the more because I am succeeding to an office held by that 
great man, your first President, Lord Tennyson, who, apart from the beauty and 
