i6 
NATURE NOTES. 
a General Committee was appointed to watch over the matter, and to organise a 
deputation to wait upon the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to protest 
against their vandalism, and to advocate that Sudbrook Park should be thrown 
open to the public and added on to Petersham Park, to which the school children 
of London, in the summer time, come in shoals, and are allowed to play games 
and enjoy the beauties of nature. His Grace the Duke of Fife, who has a seat in 
the neighbourhood, and other noblemen and gentlemen, have joined the Com- 
mittee : the Kyrle Society, the Commons Preservation Society, and the Metropolitan 
Gardens Association, have seconded the efforts being made to preserve the park 
from destruction, and it is hoped that our united efforts will meet with success 
and will show to other neighbourhoods the value of having an organisation like a 
branch of the Selborne Society ready at hand to watch over their interests. 
T. F. Wakefield, 
Hon. Sec. to Committee. 
P.S. — We feel that should Sudbrook Park be built over, we should soon lose 
many of the wild birds which are now to be met with in Richmond Park, close at 
hand. We have there herons, hawks, night-jars, owls, woodpeckers, wild water 
fowl, kingfishers, woodpigeons, rooks, nuthatches, &c., &c. 
On the same subject the following weighty and interesting letter has been 
received by the Editor of the Richmond and Twickenham Times , from Sir Frede- 
rick Leighton, P. R.A., one of the vice-presidents of the Lower Thames Valley 
Branch of the Selborne Society 
“ Dear Mr. King, — I have to acknowledge your letter of the 6th instant, 
informing me that the Lower Thames Valley Branch of the Selborne Society is 
energetically at work to save Sudbrook Park from the encroachments of the builder. 
I earnestly wish you success in so good a cause, and one of importance to so many. 
Your lovely park, with its wide wild spaces, and its sweet fresh air, is— and is 
daily more and more becoming — a priceless possession to the inhabitants of this 
black and monstrous metropolis ; and it is so in its most frequented part perhaps 
in great measure from the fact that Sudbrook Park shields it as a bulwark against 
smoke and bricks and mortar. I sincerely trust it may never lose that protection, 
for I feel that the breaking down of this barrier would have most mischievous 
results in many ways. I think public opinion will be warmly in your favour, and 
will strengthen your hands. Certainly my very best wishes follow you in your 
present endeavours. 
“ I am, yours faithfully, 
“ Fred. Leighton. 
“ 2, Holland Park Road, Kensington, W., 
“ 8 th January, 1890.” 
OFFICIAL NOTICES. 
At a meeting of the Central Council, held on Wednesday, the 8th instant, Mr. 
J. L. Otter, the honorary treasurer, presented a statement of accounts, showing 
that, after all liabilities to the 31st of December, 1889, had been met, there was a 
small balance in hand. It was estimated that when the accounts were fully made 
up before the general meeting on the 1st of May, there would be a considerable 
surplus. 
Some reports of meetings and several other communications sent in have been 
unavoidably postponed through lack of space. Names of new members and 
subscriptions paid will appear in this column in future numbers. 
Communications on the general business of the Society ought to be sent to 
the Secretary of the Selborne Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi, W.C. ; Edi- 
torial communications to the Rev. Percy Myles, i, Argyle Road, Ealing, W. 
