io6 
NATURE NOTES 
to complain of the sadness of Nature. Maeterlinck took the 
case of the life of the drones, who having lived a short, bright, 
nappy existence in the sunshine, w'ere, at the approach of 
winter, ruthlessly massacred. That was a fact, but at the same 
time there w^as no reason to believe that the drones had any 
anticipation of the misfortune that awaited them, and there was 
every reason to hope that their death was almost painless. At 
any rate it was sudden, and they were spared the suffering of 
the long, cold winter, and next year there was another crop of 
drones to lead an equally happy and bright, if short, life. There- 
fore if the object was that the drones should be happy and enjoy 
themselves, this arrangement was probably the best that could 
be devised. Huxley once said that Nature gave everything to 
“her darling the strongest.” That again he thought a mistake. 
He used the word strongest not merely to imply strength of 
muscle, but also of brain, digestion, and, in human beings, the 
strength of character, because, if Nature gave too much, and 
there was not the character to utilise it properly, the result 
would be to weaken the person, make him fat, lazy, dyspeptic, 
and not so happy as a more energetic existence would render 
him. If Nature did too much for any'being, and that being did 
not do what he could for himself, he gradually sank in the 
scale of existence, and Nature, instead of benefiting him, had 
done him disservice. At any rate if the view of Maeterlinck 
and other writers — that Nature was sad — were the correct one, 
they were all making a mistake and were wrong in the belief 
— though he thought they would continue in that belief — that 
the study of Nature contributed most largely to make life bright 
and happy and useful. 
The Earl of Stamford seconded the adoption of the Report. 
Supplementing the remarks of Lord Avebury about works of 
interest to the Selborne Society, he mentioned the recently- 
published “ Life and Letters of Gilbert White.” They might 
be said to contain the last word that could be said about Gilbert 
White, a subject that seemed to excite more interest as the years 
rolled on. 
The Report was then adopted. 
Mr. Downing proposed and IMr. Otter seconded a vote of 
thanks to the retiring officers. This was heartily accorded. 
The officers for the coming year were then elected as 
follows : — 
President. 
The Right Hon. LORD .WEBURY, D.C.L., F.R.S., &c. 
Trustees. 
The Right Hon. LORD AVEBURY, D.C.L., F.R.S., &c. 
G. A. MUSGR.AVE, Esq., F.Z.S., F.R.G.S. 
Vice-Presidents. 
O. V. Aplin, Esq., F.L.S. I Mrs. Brightwen, F.E.S. 
Prof. G. S. Boulger, F.L.S., F.G.S., Hon, The Right Hon. James Bryce, M.P, 
Editor. I Charles Burt, Esq., J.P. 
The Hon. Mrs. R. C. Boyle. 1 The Rev. H. E. U. Bull, M.A. 
