104 
NATURE NOTES 
steps towards suppressing the trade in birds’ feathers. By the 
Customs Circular of 1902, the taking by sea or land out of 
British India of skins and feathers of all birds was prohibited, 
the exceptions being the feathers of ostriches and skins and 
feathers exported bona fide as specimens illustrative of natural 
history. Mr. Wallace was rather doubtful whether that had 
been carried into operation, and he believed that the ordinance 
had been suspended, but he (Lord Avebury) hoped that was 
not the case. The action of the authorities, however, showed 
that they were anxious to carry out the principles that were 
held by members of the Selborne Society. 
k ^ Passing on to the subject of the protection of plants, his 
lordship remarked that such protection in and near London 
was more of a necessity than in the case of birds. In the 
case of the latter a great deal had been done, and he 
was inclined to think that they were increasing in numbers 
in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis. But he was afraid 
that those who lived within twenty miles of the City would 
agree] that the more beautiful wild flowers were disappearing. 
That was due more particularly to children who gathered 
flowers for which they had no use, and then threw them 
away. He saw from the Standard of February 25, that the 
Devonshire magistrates imposed substantial fines on persons 
who came down there to gather ferns and primrose roots, and 
the Chairman of the Bench announced that any other person 
similarly guilty would be sent to prison without the option 
of a fine. He (Lord Avebury) would be glad to see magistrates 
in other parts of the country following out that example, not, 
of course, being too severe in the first instance. He thought 
the gatherers of such roots did not quite appreciate the injury 
they were doing. He saw two men gathering primrose roots 
near his house not long ago, and they were very surprised when 
he spoke to them, and they retorted that they thought they 
were in a civilised country. He pointed out that that was 
the very reason why they should not root up the beautiful 
plants growing about us. 
Passing on he remarked that another interesting point about 
the Society had been the purchase of “ The Wakes ” by Mr. 
Andrew Pears during the last year, and that gentleman had 
stated he would be pleased to welcome the members of the 
Society on the excursion in June if he was at home. 
He proceeded to express the hope that municipalities would 
plant more trees in the thoroughfares. It was so very pleasing 
in warm summer weather to walk through streets lined by trees, 
and he thought municipalities might well do much more in that 
direction than they had done up to the present time. The 
attention of them all had, he said, been called to Stratford-on- 
Avon, where Mr. Carnegie, with his great philanthropy, had 
