9 8 
NATURE NOTES. 
A Brave Comrade. — Miss Harriet Peyton sends us from Cwinrhaiadr, 
Machynlleth, an account of the following interesting incident : — “ In this wild 
mountainous region from which I write, Buzzard Hawks are not uncommon, and 
on one occasion our keeper, seeing two of them, shot and wounded one severely, 
and, in fact, thought he had killed it, as it began to drop. At this moment the 
other hawk flew under it, supporting it on its back, and carrying it along 200 
yards or more at a stretch. As soon as the support was withdrawn, the wounded 
bird began to fall, and again its friendly mate supported it in the same manner, 
and actually carried it across a valley, half a mile wide, to some very precipitous 
rocks, where they were lost sight of.” 
Footpath. Preservation. — We have received the Annual Report of the 
National Footpath Preservation Society for 1888-9, and gladly call the attention 
of Selbornians to a body which has a special claim upon their sympathy. “ This 
Society ” — we quote its prospectus — was “ formed for the preservation of ancient 
Foot and Bridle Paths, and all other Rights of Way by Land and Water, Fishing, 
Vacant Spaces, as Village Greens, Roadside slips of Land, & c. It may be 
remarked that, had such a Society been established fifty years ago, a considerable 
number of footpaths (which are as much highways as roads) would have been 
saved to the public. Public footpaths intersect the country in every direction. 
They are of the utmost use, and afford an unfailing source of healthy recreation 
and innocent enjoyment to all sections of the community ; young and old, rich 
and poor, are alike interested in their preservation, and yet we know that such 
public ways have, in innumerable cases, been stopped with impunity. It is, there- 
fore, of the greatest importance that the existence of these rights of way should 
not be left to chance, or to the casual efforts of individuals, but that they should 
be fixed on such a basis as would secure them against attacks.” 
During the past year, ninety-four cases of footpath stopping and encroach- 
ments have been brought under the notice of the Society, and, in many instances, 
the action of the Society has resulted in the removal of the grievance. Twelve 
local footpaths’ societies are affiliated to the central body, as well as twenty-one 
Local Boards, fifteen Corporations and Ratepayers’ Associations, and twenty- 
seven field clubs, and similar bodies. The report, price 6d., and all information, 
may be obtained from the Secretary, Mr. H. Allnutt, 42, Essex-street, Strand, 
W.C. An annual subscription of 5s. entitles to membership. 
Wild Birds and Maize. — The Rev. F. M. Millard writes from' Otham 
Parsonage, Maidstone : — “ We keep a few Bantams, and we have been in the habit 
of throwing out wheat for them. But the sparrows used to take so large a share 
of this that I have now given them maize, unbroken, instead. The results are 
rather amusing : the sparrows try their best, but can make very little of it. 
Greenfinches (whom, except in snowy weather, I have not seen so near the 
windows before) seem to succeed rather better, but not much. But the Blue Tit, 
though so much smaller, manages much better. He carries off a grain to a rose- 
bush growing against the wall : he holds it firmly between his little claws and 
pecks away at the inner side of the grain, much as I have seen a Nuthatch 
hammer at a nut wedged in the bark of one of our oak-trees. Master Tommy’s 
appetite seems insatiable ; but I don’t like to grudge him, his ways are so pretty.” 
WORK OF THE BRANCHES OF THE 
SELBORNE SOCIETY. 
It has been pointed out by several readers that the account of the Selborne 
Society’s work in the last number of Nature Notes gives a very inadequate idea 
of the size, income and importance of the Society, inasmuch as it deals only 
with the work of the Central Council, and omits all mention of the very 
numerous and energetic branches, which in their continual increase are covering 
the whole land. 
