NATURE NOTES. 
116 
in the districts visited by excursionists, also as to the wearing of plumage, which 
was taken up and discussed in the public press (with very good results), and 
again, as to the distribution of leaflets among the school children. This is now 
being largely emphasised by the distribution of 20,000 copies of the enclosed 
leaflet among all the leading Board and other schools, the masters and mistresses 
having kindly undertaken to speak to their pupils about its contents at the time of 
distribution. Our number of members is now 130, and we hope soon to raise it 
to a sufficient total to enable us to elect a vice-president of the society.” 
The Hon. Secretary of the Bath Branch, Mr. Wheatcroft, sends papers 
with an account of the annual “ At Home ” of the Branch at Clarendon Manor, 
the president, Mr. H. D. Skrine, and Mrs. Skrine, receiving the visitors. There 
was a large attendance o( members who displayed much enthusiasm. We extract 
the following remarks from the president’s address for the guidance of other 
branches in carrying out the suggestions made in our last number. “ I will name 
one point that has been mentioned in the last number of Nature Notes, viz., 
the desire on the part of the Central Council to have reports of progress and 
general work from the rural branches, in order to compare notes and draw some 
definite conclusions as to the best way of carrying on the business of the Society. 
I have no doubt Mr. Wheatcroft will be able to do this as often as is required, 
and probably has done so already, but the space in Nature Notes is limited, 
and no very voluminous reports are admissible.. Another point suggested was 
the utilisation of a local newspaper for the purpose of circulating information on 
subjects of interest in Natural History, or otherwise. We have a Selborne 
column at our service in the Bath Chronicle, and 1 hope some of our more 
scientific members will now and then send an article to the editor, and others 
who do not profess any scientific knowledge may be able to relate matters that 
have come under their observation that would interest us or influence the public 
in favour ol the protection of birds, plants, and pleasant places.” Mr. Wheatcroft 
drew attention to the outrage described in the last number of Nature Notes, 
under the title of “ A Seabird’s Rock and its Brutal Visitors,” and the greatest 
part of the meeting was occupied in the discussion of this subject, which 
excited the greatest indignation on the part of the members. The follow- 
ing resolution was proposed by the president and was carried unanimously : 
“That this meeting hereby expresses its indignation at the cruel and heartless 
conduct, in the wanton destruction of sea birds and their eggs, of certain 
persons said to have landed from the Sir Richard Fletcher steamer, on the 
island of Grasholm, off Milford Haven, reported in the Daily Graphic of the 
31st May last, whilst it heartily approves of the action taken by the Council of 
this Society in bringing the matter before Parliament, with a view to securing the 
punishment of the wrongdoers and preventing the recurrence of such misconduct.” 
On the proposition of Professor Earle it was resolved that the Committee be 
requested to make the necessary arrangements for a series of lectures on natural 
history and science, or other appropriate subjects, to be given at the Institution or 
elsewhere during the ensuing winter months. The president, in acknowledging 
a hearty vote of thanks, said that he should like to see more members : he 
believed the Thames Valley Branch was the largest, numbering 200, while they 
had only about 125. He trusted they would show they were not a senti- 
mental and fanciful association, but one worthy of the objects it professed to 
support. 
The metropolitan and suburban branches are not a whit behind their pro- 
vincial brethren in activity. We see from newspapers sent by Miss Agnes 
Martelli, hon. sec. of the flourishing Northern Heights Branch, and Mr. R. 
Marshman Wattson, hon. sec. of the rapidly increasing Clapton (Lower Lea 
Valley) Branch, that these two portions of the Society have extended to each 
other mutual invitations, and had some very enjoyable first excursions. We 
commend their example to other neighbouring branches. 
It is particularly requested that subscriptions and letters bearing on the general 
business of the Society, should not be forwarded to the editors, but to the Secretary 
of the Selborne Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi. Editorial communications 
should be addressed to the Rev. Percy Myles, i, Argyle Road, Ealing, W. 
