SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES 
59 
Sir Walter Scott, in “The Talisman,’' as is well-known, has a fine passage on 
the ficleliiy and sagacity of the dog. The lame duck in “ The Caxtons,” that hobbled 
after ils protector, can hardly, I suppose, be a pure invention. Am I wrong in 
believing that Trollope somewhere speaks of ravens in a cathedral tower? The 
following examples may perhaps be le.ss known. 
Some years ago I read an extract from a novel in which mention was made of 
a cygnet by the side of its parent — the young bird, according to the author, being 
whiter even than the old one, though that, lleaj^en knows, was white enough. 
The writer, surely, did not know his “ Ugly Duckling.” Mrs. F. A. Steel, in one 
of her thrilling Indian stories, says that in a garden in Lucknow (she spells it in 
the old fashion) “squirrels loll yawning through (he summer day.” Under which 
half of my double heading this should be ranged I do not venture to speculate ; 
still I cannot but think that Messrs. Kearton, to whom we are indebted for so 
many charming pictures of wild life at home, would add yet one more to their 
claims on our gratitude, if they could give us an authentic picture of a lolling and 
yawning squirrel. 
It is long since I read in a novel a comparison of a bad woman roaming dis- 
tractedly (I think on a river bank) to an animal sometimes seen in a menagerie 
moving backwards and forwards at the end of its chain — “ the restless cavy.” 
For the auihenticity of this gem I can vouch, though I have unhappily for- 
gotten the name of the book in which it is to be found. Let us hope that the 
author has by this time discovered that this fierce, chained, untamable beast is 
otherwise known as — the common guinea-pig. 
Otham, Maidstone. F'. M. Millard. 
SELBORNE SOCIETY NOTICES. 
Council Meetings. — The next meetings of the Council will be held at 
20, Hanover Square, W., on Tuesdays, March 5 and 19, and April 2, at 
5.30 p.m. 
The Council begs to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipts of the following 
donations: — Ernest A. Elliott, Esq., 5s. ; II. B, Kitchin, Esq., 5s. ; — Culshaw, 
Esq., 2s. 6d. ; Rev. J. E. Hall, 5s., Chas. Burt, Esq., los. ; Earl Stamford, £z-, 
J. E. Judson, Esq., 5s. ; Edward A. Nash, Esq., 5s. ; Miss Whiting, 2s. 6d. ; 
and the following subscriptions over 5s. : — H. T. Evelegh, lisq., los. ; Mrs. 
G. S. Kempson, los. ; H. E. Luxmore, Esq., los. ; Miss A. Garrett, £i is. ; 
Miss Cheelham, los. 6d. ; 11 . Chipperfield, Esq., 7s. ; Miss C. V. Hall, 
los. 6d. ; Bishop of Durham, los. ; Rev. J. E. Hall, los. ; Miss Ella Shadwell, 
£\ ; Mrs. E. Brightwen, £'^ 5s. ; Miss Eorssteen, los. ; W. H. Maw, Esq., 
los. ; Mrs. Silkenstadt, £\ ; H. Harpur Crewe, Esq., 12s. 6d. ; Capt. Jas. 
Cundy, £l is. ; Rev. E. M. Millard, los. ; Chas. Burt, Esq., los. ; Earl 
Percy, ^3 ; J. S. Budgett, Esq. (per W. J. Martin, Esq.), 21s. ; Mrs. Robinson, 
los. 6d. ; Mrs. Hubbard, los. ; Miss Agatha Walker, los. ; A. ). Hall, Esq., 
los. ; W. H. Warner, E'.sq., 21s. ; Miss N. W. Ranken, 7s. 6d. ; C. W. W'are, 
Esq., 20s. ; C. Surgey, Esq., 21s. ; Rev. W. R. Tagart, 6s. 6d. ; W. C. Stapleton, 
Esq., 21S. ; C. Blore, Esq., los. ; J. Rawlins, Esq., 7s. 6d. 
The Council have received from John Roney, Esq., 18, Wiltshire Road, 
Biixton, an interesting catalogue of sale of Gilbert White’s house, dated 1840, 
together with a plan of the village, showing other properties, and a well-executed 
view of “ The Wakes ” from the lawn. 
The following new members have joined : — Mrs. Richmond, Shrewsbury ; 
North Staffoidshire Clarion Field Club; Wesley Page, Esq., F.Z.S., Shepherd’s 
Bush; Frank Rollaston, Esq., Erdington ; W. D. Sang, Esq., Kirkcaldy: 
W. T. Richards, Esq., Torquay. 
Selborne Saturday Afternoous. 
Saturday, January 26. — Members of the Society met at the Natural 
History Museum, South Kensington, where Dr. A. Smith Woodward gave a 
most interesting demonstration upon F'ossil Fi.shes, and the thanks of the visitors 
are due to him for his kindness upon the occasion. 
