28 
XATURE NOTES 
common snails, though the spiral appearance suggests them. 
Exceptionally fine hairs cover the pods meantime. These dis- 
appear towards the completion of the objects. 
It is in their perfect condition, when their few seeds are 
ripe, that the striking resemblance to snail-shells is observable. 
Each pod is then exactly the colour of a well-travelled snail, 
and equals it in average size. The likeness must be regarded 
as wonderful, although when a pod is fingered and examined 
closely — pulled about, in fact — the deception may soon lose its 
effectiveness without the observer being any wiser concerning its 
true character. 
Precisely what can be the full purpose of such mimicry it is 
not altogether possible to determine. It may be that while 
lying on the ground they so far deceive certain birds as to entice 
the latter to carry them off and crack them open, thereby 
spreading the seeds about. It is well known that the thrush 
deliberately bangs snail-shells against stone so that their con- 
tents become more accessible. But this is a mere passing 
thought. I have not intended to enter into any question which 
might engender controversial responses, but further enlighten- 
ment on the unusual subject is desirable from anyone who can 
speak with authority. — James Scott. 
[Reproduced from The Agricultural Economist, by kind per- 
mission of the Agricultural and Horticultural Association.] 
[Medicago scutdlata, a South European species, is only one of 
a series the fruits of which more or less resemble snail-shells, as 
such names as M. Helix and M. Murex suggest. — Ed. N.N.] 
SELBORNIANA. 
Gilbert White and Oriel College. — Mr. Rashleigh Holt- 
White, the senior living representative of Gilbert White’s family, 
writes to us as follows : — 
“ Will you allow me to express the great regret with 
which I have read in Major Mullens’s recently published lecture, 
‘ Gilbert White of Selborne,’ a revival of what I can only call 
a deplorable invention regarding the naturalist, viz., ‘ the 
troubled aspect of his life in connection with his College,’ and 
that ‘ he undoubtedly incurred considerable unpopularity ’ by 
refusing College livings, and again, ‘ this unpopularity was not 
diminished’ by his coming up as Proctor in 1752 ? 
“ All of these statements, like Dr. Shadwell’s monstrous 
one that White retained his Fellowship after his father’s death 
by holding his tongue about his fortune, are purely gratuitous 
assumptions, unwarranted by any shadow of evidence whatever ; 
and not only such, but they are not even reasonable presump- 
tions from the known circumstances in White’s time. 
