SECRETARIES AND THEIR WORK 
3 
came to a tragic end at the Palace a year ago, are incorporated 
in these groups. 
Our Index. — It should have been stated in our last number 
that the Society is indebted to Mrs. Percy Myles for the pre- 
paration of the index to the year’s volume of Nature Notes. 
LOCAL CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES AND 
THEIR WORK. 
By the Editor. 
■S2JJIHE notion of the Council in proposing to appoint 
nwmil Local Corresponding Secretaries seems to require 
some explanation. Where branches of the Society 
already exist it is presumed that there is sufficient 
means of communication with the Council on matters of 
Selbornian interest. If any topic arises on which it is desirable 
to arouse public feeling throughout the country, the Council 
naturally communicate with the Branch Secretaries ; whilst if 
some local building of antiquarian value, some beautiful piece of 
local scenery, some neighbouring right of way, or some rare or 
interesting local species of plant or animal, is threatened with 
destruction, the Branch, through its Secretary, can readily enlist 
the sympathy of the entire Society. What can be done in this 
way where a Branch exists, it is desired to accomplish as far as 
possible in other districts, pending the formation of a Branch. 
It may safely be asserted that in every Natural History 
Society or Field Club in the three kingdoms there is at least 
one member whose interest in animated nature is of a humani- 
tarian even more than of a purely scientific character ; one who 
is at heart a Selbornian though he, or she, may be ignorant of 
the existence of the Selborne Society. Such persons it is desired 
to reach, to unite and to support as missionary centres for the 
spread of our principles. At the same time, without in the least 
wishing to put a stop to intelligent and reasonable collecting for 
purposes of study, we recognise that there is in many such 
societies a danger of the mere passion for possession leading to 
such wholesale and indiscriminate collection, especially of rare 
species for purposes of exchange, that some such check as the 
occasional advocacy of Selbornian principles by lectures, or by 
mere comments in the course of debates is most desirable. 
Whilst the Selborne Society is naturally desirous of strength- 
ening itself by enlisting new subscribers in all parts of the 
country, it does not want to withdraw support from local 
societies. All it proposes, in places where there is no Branch, 
IS, therefore, that the local society should nominate from among 
its own members some one who should act, under the title of 
