156 
REPORT. 
Montague, C. Nicholson, F.E.S., Gerard Smith, M.R.C.S., and Miss 
Edith J. Temple, on various scientific subjects. 
At the invitation of Mr. Fred. J. Hanbury, F.L.S., members and 
friends visited Steinforth House, Upper Clapton, on November 25, and 
inspected his valuable collections of lepidoptera and plants. 
It is under consideration to provide, as the funds at the disposal of 
the Committee may permit, lectures or exhibits (by lantern or other 
attractive means) at local exhibitions, bazaars, or other social gatherings, 
when such would be acceptable. 
After paying the tithe due to the Treasurer of the Selborne Society 
there remains a balance in hand of ;^8 4s. lod. 
Croydon and Norwood. — During 1896 a number of lectures have 
been delivered on behalf of the Society, in connection with meetings of 
various local societies. 
The Field Club Meetings proved very successful and enjoyable, and 
by the admission of non-Selbornians to the rambles, it was hoped that 
good influence might be brought to bear upon them in the way of pre- 
venting much of that destruction of wayside hedges and wild flowers 
which unfortunately characterises too many country rambles. 
It is suggested that future work may lie (i) in the direction of the 
establishment of a Birds’ Protection Sunday, or a Nature Sunday, on 
which day ministers of all denominations be invited to deal with such 
Selbornian subjects ; (2) the establishment of a Local Museum ; (3) the 
delivery of lectures to children, with essay-writing to follow. 
Efforts have been made throughout the year to obtain the re-opening 
of a piece of ground which has been closed in the Stroud Green Road, 
and which formerly was portion of a footpath to Ham Farm, there 
being every evidence of the ground having been illegally closed. 
Attempts were made by the Croydon County Council to obtain, in 
company with the London County Council, and the Borough of West 
Ham, identical Orders in Council protecting a large number of birds, and 
extending the close time so as to include February and August. As is 
well known, the Order was obtained for the Metropolitan Police area, but 
this Order has no force in the Croydon County area. An identical appli- 
cation was made by the Croydon County Council, but the Secretary of 
State refused to grant an Order, on the grounds that by the Act of 
1894 there was nothing to show that County Boroughs were included 
in the scope of the Act. The short .\ct of 1896, however, has re- 
moved this disability, but at present no Order has, it is regretted, been 
obtained. 
The attention of the Roads Committee of the County Council was 
called, early in the year, to the dilapidated condition of the finger-post 
at the junction of the public lane from Elmer’s End and the Wickham 
Road, Shirley. This was promptly remedied by the County Council, 
and a new sign-post erected. It need scarcely be added that to the 
decay of finger-posts may possibly be traced the loss of many a public 
footpath. 
Hatfield Hyde (Junior) Branch (Report, March 10 to May, 
1897). — Several years ago some members were obtained for the Selborne 
Society in this neighbourhood, and the establishment of a branch was 
proposed but not accomplished. 
In the spring of this year, grown people in the parish of Hatfield 
were approached with a view to membership and the formation of a 
branch. They made, however, scarcely any response, and as the 
children of the Hatfield Hydedistriit of the parish had already shown 
an interest in Natural History, a branch was formed for their benefit 
and in the hope that they may become teachers and leaders of their 
ciders in carrying out the objects of the Society. 
