3 
ON MATTERS SELBORNI AN. 
HE beginning of a new year being the recognised time 
| for retrospect and prospect, for counting losses and 
gains, the time for penitence for sins, and for the 
formation of good resolutions for the future, some 
review of the position of Nature Notes and of the Selborne 
Society , with the insinuation of a moral, may not be amiss. 
Nature Notes is both titularly, and in fact, “the magazine 
of the Selborne Society ; ” not in the narrow sense that its 
scope is limited to members of that Society, but in the sense 
that it is an instrument made and directed by the Selborne 
Society ; made and directed, however, for advocating causes 
which, though peculiarly dear to that Society, are of general 
concern, and for dealing with subjects of interest to all naturalists, 
whether members or not. 
In the editorial programme put forth eight years ago it was 
stated : — 
“ One main object of the magazine is to establish a connect- 
ing link between uninstructed love of Nature and accurate 
scientific knowledge. Those who know most are not always 
those who love most ; but additional knowledge will certainly 
increase the pleasure of those who are already Nature lovers, 
i.e., Selbornians. Accordingly, the articles in the magazine 
will not be of a technically scientific nature, but the writers will 
seek to combine accuracy of statement with a popular style. 
Such topics will be chosen as are likely to interest the ordinary 
reader, who is not a trained botanist or zoologist, but wishes to 
learn more about the flowers, birds and insects which attract his 
attention in his daily walks, if he lives in the country, or which 
have caught his eye in his holiday rambles, if he is one who 
passes most of his time in 1 populous city'- pent.’ 
“ It is believed that a large number of interesting observa- 
tions, made by those who use their eyes for the purpose of 
Nature-study, are lost, because the observers do not think what 
they have noticed is of sufficient value to be worthy of record in 
any scientific journal. We may hope that Nature Notes will 
do much to utilise such observations and to collate the experience 
of various observers.” 
The Society may without arrogance claim a fair measure of 
achievement of this part of the programme. The cultivated 
enthusiasm of Mr. Myles, so generously given to the work of 
editing Nature Notes, was not given in vain ; nor since our 
loss by his death (so untimely as it seems) has the care and 
accurate knowledge of Mr. Britten been for nought ; far from 
it. But the benefit of such services, however great, is not 
alone sufficient, in the circumstances of the case, to make the 
magazine equal to our reasonable hopes. Though it is of small 
size, the task of editor becomes difficult, or impossible, if he 
