NATURE NOTES 
3 ^ 
accommodation was scanty. In 1520 the Speaker of the House of Commons 
wrote to the Benchers that he would accept of the Attorney-General as his bed- 
fellow. For the students it was a paternal government, seeing that the Benchers 
not only regulated their clothes but also the length of their beards. Only certain 
officials could marry ; the rest had either to be celibates or to relinquish their 
wives. There was an exercise called “ Moots” performed under the supervision 
of the chief butler, who on one occasion was put in the stocks for over-zeal. By 
a proclamation of Burghley, the painting of Queen Elizabeth’s portrait was for- 
bidden till someone could be found to do justice to her “ natural beauty, grace 
and favour.” 
Masques and revels were numerous, but the most famous entertainment was 
the production in the Hall of Shakespeare’s “ Comedy of Errors,” in 1594. 
The Selbornians were subsequently entertained to tea, and on its conclusion 
most hearty thanks were voted to the Benchers for their hospitality and to Mr. 
Severn for his paper and invaluable services as guide. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Clapton. — January 21. — The usual monthly meeting of this Branch was 
held at Sigdon Road School, Hackney Downs, Mr. R. Marshman Wattson in 
the chair. A paper was read by Mr. Ernest A. Nash, a Vice-President of 
the Branch, and was entitled “ Some Legendary Explanations of Natural 
Markings in Living Nature.” The paper, Mr. Nash said, would necessarily be 
a short one, as in limiting his remarks to “ living Nature ” he had found himself 
in a very' restricted and comparatively unworked field of research. Under the 
two headings, Animal Kingdom and the Vegetable World, he had gathered with 
some difficulty a number of interesting and little-known examples. From the 
.\nimal Kingdom Mr. Nash related some legendary explanations of the dark 
cross on the back and forelegs of the Ass ; of the peculiar way in which the 
mandibles of the Cross-bill cross each other, and of why the Robin has a red 
breast. Legends of a similar type were selected from the Vegetable World, 
relating to the Blessed Thistle {Carduus benedkius). Wild Arum {Arum macu- 
latum). Aspen {Populus tremula), and several others. Many of the legends 
were connected with our Blessed Lord and His Passion. The paper was con- 
cluded with a quotation from Robert Turner, a mediaeval herbalist: “God hath 
implanted upon the plants, herbes, and flowers, as it were in hieroglyphics, 
the verie signature of their vertues.” 
A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Nash for his valuable and interesting 
paper. 
Hampstead. — The Committee of the Branch has pleasure in acknowledging 
subscriptions of more than 5s. from the following members : Andrew J. Lloyd, 
Esq., £l ; Cecil Clarke, Esq., los. ; Miss Ross, lOs. ; David Ross, Esq., 7s. 6d. 
P'or some time a small society known as the “ Birds’ Friends,” has existed 
for feeding the birds on Hampstead Heath during the winter. The work was 
carried on under the direction of Mrs. Thompson, a member of the Selborne 
Society, but owing to her removal to Finchley, the duty of helping to provide 
for our feathered friends is being taken over by the Hampstead Branch. 
On January 16, Mr. Oliver G. Pike, the well-known ornithologist, gave his 
promised lecture to the members of the Branch. Notwithstanding the blizzard 
that was blowing there was a very fair attendance. Space forbids any attempt 
even to outline the lecture, but one or two remarks are necessary. Mr. Pike 
described the camera which he used for his work and the many ingenious devices 
to which the photographer had perforce to resort to obtain his pictures. Not the 
least qualification for such work is patience. With regard to the .sedge warbler, 
.sometimes confounded with the nightingale, one had only to make a noise in its 
immediate vicinity, and the bird would sing at almost any hour, day or night. 
Thrushes, robins, skylarks, wood pigeons, now tame in London, warblers, water 
birds, tits, and many others figured upon the screen amid almost continuous 
applause. A marsh tit had refused to budge, and in order to photograph the nest 
it had to be gently removed by hand. Among other curious quarters for nesting 
which some birds affected was an exploded lyddite shell, in which a wheatear 
