22 
NATURE NOTES 
doubt, moreover, the existence of any such a widespread love of 
birds in a wild state as would lead to much of the somewhat 
altruistic action alleged. Caged thrushes, however, are still 
unfortunately common objects of the towns. 
Parsley Fern.— Our attention has been called to an adver- 
tisement in The Bazaar of “large clumps of parsley fern” at 
is. per dozen or 6s. per cwt. As the advertisement dates 
from Grasmere the “clumps” it refers to are probably wild 
ones, and, though this beautiful species is as yet abundant 
thereabouts, if it is to be uprooted in the wholesale fashion 
suggested by the prices quoted it cannot long remain so. It 
is moreover so difficult of cultivation — requiring, in fact, a con- 
stant flow of water about its roots— that few of the receivers 
of these beauties stolen from the mountain side will derive any 
permanent pleasure from the vandalism which their encourage- 
ment alone causes to be perpetrated. 
A New Forest Natural History Society.— We note with 
pleasure the formation at Brockenhurst, under the presidency of 
a Selbornian, the Hon. John Scott Montagu, M.P., of a society 
for “ the banding together of those taking an interest in Natural 
Science residing within or near the borders of the New Forest.” 
Among its rules appears the salutary provision that “ rare 
plants should not be removed from their localities in such 
quantities as to endanger their extinction. The practice of 
exterminating rare birds, fishes, insects, &c., is discouraged, 
and the influence of members is requested for their protection. 
Observations and records of the habits, migratory and breeding 
seasons, &c., of birds, are recommended in preference to the 
taking of the birds or their eggs.” “ Discouraged ” is a mild 
term to apply to “ the practice of extermination,” and we doubt 
if many collectors, when capturing all the few specimens of a 
rarity they happen upon, often realise that they may be in fact 
exterminating it. We would take exception to the application 
of the adjective “ migratory ” to a season and to the relegation 
of mammals, such as the squirrel, to the obscurity of an “ &c.” 
More serious, however, is the statement in the printed letter 
inviting new members to join the Society, that “ it will be 
one of its aims to furnish visitors and correspondents wfith 
information relative to localities and times of appearance of 
rare plants and insects, and thus make it a rendezvous for 
those who might otherwise lose valuable time.” This looks 
painfully like a Society for the speedy extermination of rarities, 
and we are strongly of opinion that any associated body of 
students of Nature in England to-day would do far better to 
insist on the infinite range of study open to their members 
which has nothing whatever to do with rarities or their 
collection. 
