126 
NATURE NOTES 
owls, and other birds, have been carefully preserved as far as 
possible. The heronry has gradually increased from one nest 
a few years ago, to about twenty nests now, and nearly fifty 
young herons flew from the nest in 1897; (4) foxes also are 
strictly preserved ; (5) but the preservation both of birds and 
animals is carried out with extreme difficulty owing to the de- 
struction carried out by the gamekeepers on private land all 
round the forest. In Captain’s Cowie’s opinion, to make the 
preservation a success a large area round the outskirts of the 
forest should be included in the scheme for protection. For 
instance, hobbies and hen-harriers have visited the forest during 
the last three years, but their lives are not safe outside the forest. 
In conclusion, Captain Cowie states that his Association will 
take every means in its power to carry out the suggestions in 
the Guildford Society’s memorial. Whilst every Selbornian 
must rejoice in this result, so far as one of Gilbert White’s chief 
haunts is concerned, it would seem highly desirable that our 
local members should endeavour to emulate the example of Mr. 
E. N. Buxton and his neighbours who have formed the Epping 
Forest Bird Protection League, to extend the area of the bird 
sanctuary over estates adjoining the forest. 
Osprey Plumes to be abolished in the Army. — Sir J. 
Lubbock asked the Under Secretary for War, on June 23, 
whether he was aware that the so-called osprey feathers worn 
as plumes by certain regiments were only developed by, and 
were stripped from, the birds during the breeding season ; and 
that the destruction of the old birds involved the starvation of the 
young ones ; and if he would consider the desirability of aban- 
doning the use of a decoration which involved the slaughter of 
birds under circumstances now shown to involve such cruelty. 
Mr. Brodrick replied : “ Orders have been given that plumes 
composed otherwise than of so-called ‘ osprey ’ feathers shall 
be prepared with a view to obtaining the sanction of Her 
Majesty to the abolition of the ‘osprey’ plumes worn by the 
commissioned officers in certain regiments. The selection of a 
satisfactory substitute is difficult, and some delay may occur in 
effecting the change.” 
Conference on Preservation. — We are delighted to learn 
that a most representative conference of members of both 
Houses of Parliament and others was held under the chairman- 
ship of the Right Hon. James Bryce, on June 23, to consider the 
desirability of some permanent arrangement for concerted action 
for the protection of rural scenes, commons, places of historic 
interest, &c. The chairman mentioned that during the last few 
years there had been a growing sense of the desirability for 
making provision in the interests of the public for the preserva- 
tion of open spaces and commons, and not a less remarkable 
desire for preserving all objects of beauty and everything with 
