68 
NATURE NOTES. 
It is evident that the legislation suggested by Mr. Murray 
will not fall to the ground for want of ardent support on the part 
of some Members of Parliament. Since his article was written, 
there has been an important division on Mr. Buchanan’s. 
Right of Way (Scotland) Bill. The Government has actually 
been defeated, and the measure carried by no votes to 97. Mr. 
Bryce's Access to Mountains (Scotland) Bill has not been 
so fortunate. Mr. Bryce’s Bill deserves the support of all lovers, 
of Nature, whatever be their nationality. As the Daily News 
says : — “ It is by no means a merely Scottish measure. It is of 
as much importance to Englishmen as to Scotchmen ; indeed,, 
it is the tourist and the traveller who are most interested in it. 
The object of the measure is to keep open the uncultivated 
mountain and moor lands of Scotland to ‘ any person walking or 
being on such lands for purposes of recreation, or scientific, or 
artistic study.’ It is fenced round with careful provisions 
against abuse, and would secure the rights of the public without 
injuring those of the landed proprietor.” The Bill stood second 
on the paper in the House of Commons on May 7th ; but un- 
fortunately its opponents went on talking on the Charitable 
Trusts Bill till all the time was gone, and accordingly the op- 
portunity was lost. 
In the programme of Nature Notes we dwelt on the impor- 
tance of keeping an eye on legislative measures which affect the 
objects which we are pledged to support, and expressed a hope 
that the Selborne Society's Magazine would be “ a medium by 
which supporters may be rallied for the advancement of good 
measures, and stout resistance offered to bad ones.” 
The Access to Mountains Bill is an excellent example of 
the good measures for which we desire to obtain supporters. 
We hope that all Selbornians will use their utmost efforts to put 
pressure upon their representatives in Parliament ; and we can 
promise both young and old politicians that if the}' do not actually 
attain the “ canonization ” spoken of by Mr. Murray, they will 
by their support of this admirable measure earn the gratitude 
of very many lovers of Nature, no matter to what political 
party they may belong. 
THE REV. J. G. WOOD.* 
E number of scientists is increasing among us. Lord 
Beaconsfield told us some years since that young ladies 
“prattled of evolution” in the drawing-room, and the 
fashion has steadily gained ground ever since. The 
pens of various versatile writers are never more at home than 
* The Rev. J. G. Wood : his Life and Work. By the Rev. Theodore Wood. 
London : Cassell and Co. ; price 10s. 6d. 
