158 
NATURE NOTES. 
for what appears on that page, and b}- no means endorses the warning in question. 
The danger of extermination is greatly exaggerated, as will be seen when it is 
remembered (i) that local floras appeal, not to “ the indiscriminate collector,” 
but to the botanist, who hardly needs such a warning ; (2) that, with some few 
exceptions, our rare plants are insignificant in appearance, and difficult of detec- 
tion, and thus unlikely to attract the “ indiscriminate collector (3) that localities 
are seldom stated with such exactness as to lead to the anticipated result. We 
are convinced that the cause Selbornians have at heart is retarded rather than 
advanced by too great insistence on points of this kind : it is not only theologians 
who “ strain principles until they are in danger of snapping.” 
All Oversight. — Several readers have called our attention to the slips in 
Mr. Ileneage Legge’s interesting article on “ Gilbert White in Sussex” (p. 126), 
in which White’s daughter and son-in-law are spoken of. The Editor must have 
been anticipating his holiday when he allowed these to pass, for everj’one knows 
that “ White of Sel borne ” was never married. 
How to Protect Birds. — Mrs. Brightwen in her admirable paper on 
“How to Protect Birds” (W.W., 1894, p. 42), says that among other ways 
of encouraging village children to take interest in natural historj', “ small 
prizes might be offered for the best papers on our English birds, and all the 
items about them that can be obtained.” HaHng done this for the last two 
years in this village, I venture to give my experience, thinking that it may 
perhaps help others in doing similar work. Last year I gave seven or eight 
questions on general natural history subjects, such as how to tell what a bird 
feeds on by the shape of its beak and claws, what is meant by the migra- 
tion of birds, what are the habits and uses of the mole, &c. Of course 
there was a little difficulty in the children having access to books which 
might help them, but we had then a schoolmaster who was fond of natural 
histor)’, and though of course no copying %vas allowed, he let them read 
several of his own books before writing their answers, and the result was 
that I had several admirable papers sent in — strange to say, all from girls, 
to whom I gave three prizes in money. This year, however, the nature- 
loving schoolmaster having gone, I adopted a different plan. In our village 
library we have a good many books on natural history, and I selected one, viz., 
Mr. Theodore Wood’s charming Nature and her Servants, and set seven 
questions, all of which could be answered after having read it. I gave the 
questions in March, reading them aloud in the school, and telling the children 
that anyone who liked to go in for the examination could get the book from the 
library, but must only keep it a fortnight, as others would want it, and that all 
answers must be sent to me by July 15. This year several boys as well as girls 
have gone in for it, and the papers are now coming in to me. I am going to give 
books on natural history as prizes this year, as I think that will be better than 
money, and will be a means of spreading knowledge on the subject in the village. 
If anyone desires it, I should be most happy to send a copy of my list of 
questions, or the children’s answers to them a little later on, when the prizes have 
been given. 
Horsell Vicarage, IVoking. Rose Turle. 
[We are sure that many of our readers will be glad to know more about Mrs. 
Turle’s experiences. — E d. A^.A’i] 
The Bujffalo. — The buaffalo is not yet quite exterminated in South America. 
In a letter from my son, who is ranching in Coalmila, Mexico, he says : “ A small 
herd of buffalo, some forty heads, has been twice seen about a day’s ride from 
this place, in a valley between two chains of hills. So they are not extinct yet. 
It has got into the Texas papers, and I expect the country will swarm with hunters 
before long, endeavouring to kill one of the last.” 
Alston, Cumberland. I. E. Page. 
