6 
NATURE NOTES 
cannot rely on the free, willing help of others ; for this, 
amongst other reasons, that he has not at his disposal the 
resources of the purse, and thus lacks one of the usual, surer, 
and more trustworthy means of obtaining a regular supply of 
contributions. A late dean of Ely is said to have commenced a 
sermon in the Cathedral with these words : “It has pleased the 
Almighty to found human society on two bases — one is money, 
the other is matri many." But the base is only part of the struc- 
ture. Above are the polished corners of the temple. And in 
this country so much gratuitous work is given without stint for 
all sorts of useful purposes, that a belief that our little, slim 
periodical should be maintained in vigour on the bounty of the 
numerous members who are rich in the needed abilities does 
not seem to savour of rashness. Our past experience indicates 
the contrary. Many have been the instructive and informing 
articles which have appeared in Nature Notes. But though 
there is cause for congratulation there is none for complacency. 
More might be done. 
The record of observations in nature, under the title of 
Natural History Notes and Queries, should be an important 
department of the magazine. Here no scientific or literary 
quality is necessary in contributors ; only the good luck of the 
opportunity and the trouble of making an accurate note of the 
circumstances, and sending it. 
It is a commercial truism that ( cceteris paribus, an important 
qualification) the better the contents of a magazine the larger 
the circulation ; but the converse, in the case of Nature Notes, 
will also be found true — that the larger the circulation the better 
the contents. There is mutual action and reaction. A small 
audience discourages a speaker, and it is but reasonable that 
an invitation for gratuitous original writing should be considered 
referentially to the probable number of readers. The circulation 
of Nature Notes is substantial, but not very strenuous efforts 
on the part of members of the Selborne Society would, perhaps, 
double it. As one result of an increase the intrinsic merit of 
Nature Notes would be improved; as another, the general 
usefulness of the Society would be advanced. 
Within the ring of the Selborne Society are persons of 
diverse views — not conflicting, but diverse — persons of various 
modes of thought and feeling. Both the management of the 
Society’s affairs and the conduct of the magazine may, there- 
fore, give occasions for annoyance, fretting, or even offence. 
The occasions may be just. But let any result follow rather 
than a freezing of interest in the Society. A man dissatisfied with 
his entertainment at an inn goes to another ; disgusted with the 
play at a theatre he leaves the house. It is not his business to 
reform either, and his only concern is to please himself. But 
within a Society whose members are co-operating for common 
objects it would be more agreeable with theory if faults acted as 
incentives to practical efforts to remedy them. 
