2 
NATURE NOTES. 
Careful observations on the Migrations and other Habits of 
Birds will be given, and authentic records of such habits are 
invited. 
The question of the injurious and beneficial agency of Insects 
in Field and Garden will be dealt with, and an attempt will be 
made to discriminate carefully and justly between the friends 
and foes of mankind. 
Not only are animals and plants disappearing from various 
parts of our land, but the quaint old legends concerning them, the 
ancient superstitions which throw so much light on Comparative 
Mythology, the fanciful, and often poetical Local Names — all 
these, valuable almost as the subjects they commemorate, are 
rapidly dying out. We shall endeavour to secure what still 
lingers of this mass of old-world tradition, and shall receive with 
gratitude communications from those who will note down provin- 
cial names of birds and plants and the folk-lore, perpetually vary- 
ing, and yet essentially the same, which has clustered round the 
animal and vegetable kingdom. In this connection we shall be 
led occasionally to refer to the work done by the Folk-lore 
Society and by the Society for the Preservation of Ancient 
Monuments. These Societies are in spirit closely akin to our 
own. We have the same foes to contend with, and many tastes 
in common. The man who loves every stone of the old abbey, 
beautiful even in its ruins, and reverently garners the legends of 
its ancient fame, will strive to preserve also the trees and flowers 
that gather round its walls, and the birds that have found in its 
desecrated altars “ a nest where they may lay their young.” 
Not only will local English names be examined and their 
etymology discussed, but articles on the Derivation and Pronuncia- 
tion of Scientific Names, will be occasionally given. There are few 
subjects which yield a more abundant crop of popular errors to 
be eradicated and replaced by correct information. 
Biographies of Naturalists will be introduced now and again, 
and it is not unlikely that some of our members may supply 
valuable information concerning the lives of half-forgotten 
worthies of time past. 
At the suggestion of Prof. Flower (Director of the Natural 
Histoty Department, British Museum), a series of short papers 
is projected on “ How to use the Natural History Museum for Nature- 
Study.” In these papers there will be a full description of the 
various type collections and of several other additions recently 
made to the Museum for the purpose of facilitating elementary 
study. Similar aids to the use of the Museums at Kew are 
hoped for, from Air. J. R. Jackson, the Curator of the Museums. 
The Allusions to Plants and Flowers which occur in our great 
Poets will be noticed ; and a series of articles is planned dealing 
with some of those masters of song who have found their highest 
inspiration in the reverent study of natural beauty, “ knowing 
that Nature never did betray the heart that loved her.” 
“Young Selborne” will certainly not be forgotten, and a 
