i 82 
NATURE NOTES 
number of such books is by no means small, and when once the library is formed, 
if it be kept up to date, it would be of very great service indeed to all interested 
in Nature-lore and Nature-studies. The founding of a school for ‘ Nature-study’ 
would, after all, I think, be the best practical purpose (along with the library) to 
which this famous Nature student’s old home could be put as public property. 
It should be a school intended for all ‘ who feel that their knowledge of Nature 
is inadequate to their needs’ — a place where the study of Nature would be 
fostered and not the study of Natural Science. 
“ If we agree as to the practical ends to be served, an appeal to English- 
speaking peoples for contributions is more likely to prove successful than if such 
an appeal rested only on sentiment.” 
The Nail-head Decoration of Selborne Houses. — Mr. 
F, Gibbons, of Stourbridge, writes as follows : — 
“ While on a recent visit to Selborne 1 was much interested to find some of 
the old houses still retaining the little bits of stone stuck into the mortar-joints 
of the walls, which Gilbert White describes as resembling nail heads, and which, 
he says, occasioned strangers to ask ‘ whether we fastened our walls together with 
tenpenny nails.” These little bits of stone had been chipped purposely to resemble 
nail-heads, and, being of a substance containing a large percentage of iron, which 
had partially rusted, the resemblance was very striking, espjcially as the stone 
of which the walls are built was of a light colour and contrasted strongly with the 
‘ nail heads.’ 
“ It is surprising that these little bits of Wolmer Forest stone have stuck 
to the mortar joints all these years and look as regular, in many cases, as when 
first put in, thus displaying the excellence of workmanship and material of the 
old days, when so much was left to the skill and integrity of the local workmen. 
“ In many cases the houses have been whitewashed, and this peculiarity has 
then to be looked closely into to discover. I could not help thinking that there 
must have been a reason for thus imitating the appearance of nails. Was not 
the original intention to make the house look as though built of wood, with 
weather-boards nailed on, and is it not a survival of the time when cottages were 
first built of stone, and they wished to make them look somewhat like their old 
wooden ones? I think this theory is much more likely to be right than that it 
was merely done ‘from a notion of rendering their work more elegant.’ It would 
be very interesting to know if this peculiar way of ornamenting houses was in 
existence in any other parts of the country. The custom seems to have dropped 
just about the time White wrote, for you see it in none but the old houses.” 
The practice to which Mr. Gibbons refers is not confined to 
Hampshire, but obtains also in Surrey and Sussex at least, the 
stone commonly used for the ‘‘ nails” being ” the ironstone from 
the Hastings or from the Lower Greensand series. We do not 
think the practice has ceased, and have often heard the strictly 
utilitarian reason of checking the disintegrating action of frost on 
the mortar, assigned for it. 
Cheddar Cliffs. — We have received the following from 
Mr. Arthur A. Kidson,of King Edward VI. ’s School, Repton ; — 
“ I have lately revisited the cliffs at Cheddar. I regret to find that a quariy 
has been opened in the most beautiful p.irt. A stone-crusher is at work, and the 
roadside is disfigured by heaps of dlbris. At present comparatively little damage 
has been done, but immediate action is necessary unless the gorge is p.-rmanently 
to be disfigured. 
‘‘ I do not know to whom the place belongs, nor whether it can be saved, but 
at least an outcry can be raised and the owner’s name can be made public.” 
We can fully endorse all that Mr. Kidson says, having very 
recently visited the spot. The quarry, which, we find, has been 
