I5I 
E le O T. 
The Council of the Selborne Society has pleasure in presenting to 
the members its Report for the year 1896. 
A new branch has been formed for the district of Portsmouth. Ur. 
J. E. H. Kelso has kindly undertaken the office of Honorary Secretary. 
In accordance with the new rule adopted at the special general 
meeting, held on November 5, 1895, to facilitate the formation of junior 
branches at schools, the pioneer junior branch was formed at Dover 
College, under the secretaryship of Mr. Bernard F. Hall. During the 
past year other junior branches have been started at Bromley, in Kent, 
the Honorary Secretary being C. E. Hartley, Esq., M.A., of “ Quern- 
more,” Bromley ; and at Hatfield, in Hertfordshire, the Honorary 
Secretary being the Rev. H. G. O. Kendall, of Orchard Cottage, Hatfield. 
The Council is anxious to encourage the formation of branches organised 
in this manner under the new rule, <as it is believed that by this means 
the early study of natural history on the lines of the Selborne Society 
is fostered, and it is hoped that such branches may be formed in course 
of time either independently or in connection with existing school 
natural history societies, at many schools and colleges in every part of 
the country. Any member willing to undertake the formation of a new 
branch either for adults or juveniles is recommended to apply to the 
Secretary of the Society for information as to the rules. The new 
leaflet recently isstied, entitled ‘‘ How to Start a Branch of the Selborne 
Society,” by Mr. Edward A. Martin, will be found useful. 
The Council has to record the great loss which Selbornian interests 
have sustained by the death of William Morris, who was one of the 
Vice-presidents of the Society for many years. 
The Council wishes again to impress upon each member of the 
Selborne Society the importance of making an effort to extend its scope 
and work. The good that has been done should be an encouragement 
to increase our efforts rather than an excuse for relaxing them. Many 
flowers and birds, once plentiful, are becoming scarcer every year ; some 
of the most beautiful spots in our lands have been attacked by that 
vandalism which feeds on selfishness ; whilst millions of birds, both 
common and rare, are killed annually for millinery decorations. 
It is the province of the Selborne Society to endeavour to abolish these 
evils, and whilst any remain it has work to do. But its efforts in this 
direction must be practically futile if it is left to the few to make them. 
There should be no lukewarm members of our Selborne Society. Its 
objects are such that none can plead inability to assist. All cannot, of 
course, have equal opportunities, but all can foster and endeavour to 
spread the same keen sympathy with the beauties of nature and the life 
around us, and make known the existence and objects of our Society. 
The importance of adding to the number of members should not be over- 
looked, and if each member would obtain at least one recruit at the 
commencement of our new year, the actual doubling of our members 
would be only one of the benefits that would arise. The hands of the 
Council would be strengthened ; the finances would be placed in a con- 
dition to enable the Society to take action where now it is compelled to 
remain inactive. Each new member becomes a centre from which 
may spring incalculable good to the objects we have at heart. 
The evils we are combating are so great and widely spread that they 
can only be lessened by determined and continuous efforts, and the 
Council appeals both to branches and individual members to work wfith 
increased energy' during the coming year. 
