i8 
NATURE NOTES 
On Friday, December 2, Prof. Boulger, Editor of Nature Notes, gave a 
lecture on “The Life and Work of Gilbert White,” illustrated by the Society’s 
collection of lantern slides. The Chair was taken by Mr. J. L. Wood, F. R.H.S., 
and there was a large and appreciative audience. In his introductory remarks 
the lecturer congratulated the Branch on the rapid progress it had made during 
its short e.xistence, and for the benefit of strangers present, described the objects of 
the Selborne .Society. 
SELBORNE SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. 
November 19. — On this Saturday afternoon the Educational Museum of 
Natural History, arranged by Mr. and Mrs Yeatman Woolf at 46, St. John’s 
Wood Park, was thrown open to memhers of the Society. Some few of the 
latter had already had the privilege of seeing the collections extended to them, as 
described in Nature Notes for last November. There W'ere, however, between 
forty and fifty visitors on the second occasion, when Mr. and Mrs. Woolf had 
redoubled their efforts in the way of displaying their treasures. Mr. Yeatman 
Woolf gave a special address on the subject of termites, or white “ ants,” illus- 
trated by specimens and drawings. His remarks were all the more interesting, 
seeing that he has studied these wonderful social insects on the spot. Mr. 
Macleod Yearsley, F.R.C..S., F.Z.S., also made some interesting allusions to 
the structure and geological history of cockroaches as illustrating the series of 
insects on view. The proceedings terminated with a cordial vote of thanks to 
Mr. and Mrs. Woolf, proposed by Mr. George Avenell, Chairman of Council, 
which was seconded by Mr. H. Plowman, I'.S.A. 
November 2(>. Stationers' Hall . — Upwards of a hundred members and friends 
assembled, and were glad to leave the raw, cold fog without to enjoy the cordial 
welcome within. Mr. C. R. Rivington, F.S.A., Clerk to the Company', received 
the vi.sitors in the Court-room, and delivered an address. He mentioned that 
in order to occupy the Chair from which he spoke a man must have belonged 
for forty years to the Company, which he could not join as a minor. Part of 
the ground on which his audience stood w.as on the site of the old city wall, 
while near by had once existed the London Coffee House where juries used 
sometimes to be lodged. The Stationers’ was one of the minor Companies. 
It was founded about 1403, but it was not until Queen Mary’s reign that 
it got a charter, which was granted as an engine to suppress heretical books, 
rather than to stimulate the printing trade. The small trading business, 
established in 1601, was still carried on. The Comp.iny had three chief 
interests. It was a City Guild ; there was the trading partnership, consisting of 
the Stockholders who owned the Hall and most of the property round ; and 
there was the registration for protection of copyright. The Great Fire de- 
stroyed practically all the Company’s records, papers, and property of great 
value. .Soon afterwards the pre.sent Hall, very much after the style of college 
halls, was erected. It had since undergone but little alteration. A noteworthy 
feature was the fine oak .screen, the work of Stephen Colledge, who was hanged 
at Oxford for treasonable conspiracy in 16S1. Of interest in the Court-room 
were the fine Chippendale overmantel, the portrait of Samuel Richardson, author 
of “ Pamela,” and Master of the Company in 1754, and a large picture by 
Benjamin West, at one time President of the Royal Academy. On the table, 
open to inspection, was a register dating from 1556, containing many entries of 
Shakespeare’s works. On tlie conclusion of his address Mr. Rivington showed 
the Company’s superb plate in an adjoining chamber ; and, on the motion of 
Me.ssrs. II. Plowman and C. M. Hailes, hearty thanks were given him for his 
services. 
Apothecaries' Hall . — It was a startling change from the turmoil of 
Ludgate Hill to the old-world premises of the .Society of Apothecaries, but 
the .Selbornians were .soon comfortably seated in the well-panelled Court room 
listening to a paper of great interest, read by Mr. A. Mowbray Upton, the Clerk. 
At the outset he reminded his hearers that the Apothcciries styled them.selves a 
Society, and th.it it was carrying on the work entrusted to it by the chatter of 
lames I. The granting of this was believed to be due to female influence brmight 
