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NATURE NOTES. 
to him eloquently of “ the untold and untellable richness of Nature — or rather 
of the Divine thoughts and their expression in the world around us.” Mr. 
Whitwell has very kindly said, that if any reader of Nature Notes would 
wish for a copy of his tiny booklet, he will be glad to send it — “ as a Selbornian.” 
We are inclined to think that there will be many applications for the charming 
little sketch which is gracefully written, and the work of a well-informed, loving 
and reverent student of nature. Mr. Whitwell’s address is 4, Thurleigh Road, 
Balham, S.W. 
SELBORNIAN A. 
The G-rassholm Outrage. — The excitement caused by the trial and con- 
viction of the offenders in this case has not at all subsided. We have received 
several letters of congratulation and approval of the course taken by the Selborne 
Society in the matter. Some of our correspondents regret that the penalty in- 
flicted is so disproportionate to the crime ; it has been pointed out that if Col. 
Saurin and his associates were to destroy some rare vase in the British Museum, 
the penalty would be a flogging and a severe term of imprisonment, while such an 
offence is, in reality, a much less heinous one than that of destroying some of the 
rarest of our bird treasures, of far more value than some archaeological curiosities. 
Among the letters received there is only one which disagrees with the line we have 
adopted, and that is signed by “An Englishwoman.” This lady is moved to 
compassion, strangely enough, not by the poor birds, whose peaceful settlement 
was turned into a scene of slaughter, but by our strictures on these gentle (?) 
“men of good position.” Our fair correspondent thinks that it would have been 
much better, instead of drawing attention to their conduct, to “ invite them to join 
the Selborne Society. ” We cannot make out whether this is said in jest or earnest. 
If in earnest, the writer must have a far less vivid sense of humour than most of 
her sex. She would apparently apply to a band of hawks to join a society for the 
protection of pigeons. If she is in jest, we fear that her small joke would be 
entirely lost on the gentlemen in question. The very worst part of their conduct 
is that the}' have not shown the slightest sense of shame or regret for the outrage 
committed by them, and seemed only able to see “the fun” of the thing, until 
the fun ended in their own conviction. Ample proof of this will be seen in the 
article in the Animal World , to which we directed the attention of our readers. 
Every new detail which comes to light makes the whole story a worse one. The 
episode of the Magistrate and County Councillor, who was one of the chief 
offenders, and before whom they were anxious the case should be heard , is irresistible 
in its sublime impudence. 
It is the fact of this want of all contrition on the part of the detected evil-doers 
which makes it necessary to pursue the matter farther. The Selborne Society 
made several applications to the Admiralty and the War Office, and to their 
representatives in the House of Commons ; these applications were in each case 
answered in an evasive and unsatisfactory manner. What was the reason of all 
this ? Why was it that such great pains were taken to stifle enquiry and to screen 
the offenders ? We must obtain an answer to these questions. We entirely 
concur with the appeal of the Animal World : — “ Will no member of the House 
of Commons interrogate the Government next November on the above details, 
and particularly on the false view which they took of the case and gave to the 
House, as shown by the facts obtained by the Society ; and will they ask the Lord 
Chancellor to do his duty ? ” 
[The Council of the Selborne Society at its last meeting, held since the above 
was in type, passed a unanimous resolution that Mr. Bryce, the only M.P. on 
our Council, should be requested to bring the matter before the House of 
Commons as soon as possible.] 
“ Sky Signs.” — A little time ago, who had ever heard of a “ Sky Sign”? 
Who is there now who does not, unfortunately, know not only the name but the 
