NATURE NOTES 
162 
PoRTMADOC, BEDDGELERT AND RhYDDEN LlGHT RAILWAY 
Scheme. — Miss Blanche Atkinson, an active member 01 our Bar- 
mouth branch, whose excellent pamphlet, “What are the Duties 
of Selbornians ? ” should be procured and read by every member 
of the Society, has unfortunately had only too strong a reason for 
active exertion of late. Time only permitted of our inserting 
the petition which she had prepared, against the very obnoxious 
scheme for a light railway through the lovely Pass of Aberglaslyn, 
as a flyleaf in our last number. The Commons Preservation 
Society and the National Trust are co-operating with our Bar- 
mouth branch in opposing this scheme, and we hope every 
member of the Society will add his name to the petition, which, 
by the way, has already been signed by Mr. Ruskin and by 
Mr. Watts. 
Protection of Birds. — We have received an appeal from 
the Society for the Protection of Birds, of which the two 
following are the most important paragraphs : — 
“ The Committee of the Society for the Protection of Birds are convinced that 
the objects of the Society would be greatly helped if the assistance of landowners, 
shooting tenants, and farmers could be obtained, as, unless united action be soon 
taken, many of the country’s birds, especially the rare birds of prey, will shortly 
become extinct. This, most people agree, will be a matter of universal regret, as 
well as a great loss to the Avifauna of the United Kingdom. It is only through 
the co-operation of gentlemen possessing shooting and other rights over land 
that it is possible to effect any real improvement in this direction ; and their 
assistance would, in the opinion of this Society, be best given by their not 
allowing keepers and other persons on the land a free hand as to what birds may 
be killed, which is often the case at present, but, on the contrary, by giving strict 
instructions as to zvhat birds only may be destroyed, which should properly be 
■only those birds that, from their abundance in any particular district, may do real 
harm." 
“ The Committee also desire to draw your attention to the use of the pole trap, 
which ought in no case to be allowed, because, even if a landowner wished to 
preserve rare birds of prey, this trap could show no such discrimination. It is, 
besides, a most cruel instrument, because, if it is not examined regularly, any 
bird caught in it may hang for days in misery, and on this account this trap has 
been prohibited on many estates.” 
Kindness to Animals. — The Rev. F. Lawrence, Hon. Sec. 
of the Church Society for the Promotion of Kindness to Animals, 
writes, from Westow Vicarage, Kirkham Abbey, York, to say 
that he will be glad to send sermons and lesson-notes to any 
friends of animals for distribution amongst preachers and 
teachers. 
TO A “FEATHERED WOMAN.” 
Dear Madam, believe me, those ornaments placed 
In the hat that you’re wearing are not in good taste. 
In themselves they are beautiful — exquisite. True, 
But, Madam, the contrast they ofler to you ! 
Is it wise, I would ask you, to make us compare 
The beauty you want with the beauty you wear ? 
