I 7 S 
NATURE NOTES 
New Members. — Herbert Roberts, Esq., Hampstead Heath ; Rev. R. 
Ashington Bullen, B.A., F.L.S., Pyiford ; J. A. Fallows, Esq., Edgbaston ; 
— Crane, Esq., Easebourne ; Mrs. Bullock, Midhurst; Mrs. Fulford, Midhurst; 
Mrs. Hill, Midhurst; Mrs. Clarence, Easebourne. 
Donations and Subscriptions.— The Council beg to acknowledge the 
following Donation: — Mrs. Mayor, 15s. ; Subscriptions over 5s: J. A. Fallows, 
Esq., 20s. ; — Crane, Esq., 20s. ; Mrs. Hill, 10s. 
NEWS FROM THE BRANCHES. 
Brighton. — On the invitation of the members of this Branch a meeting 
was held on July 11, at the St. Stephen’s School Room, to consider the extension 
of the work of the Selborne Society in Brighton, and especially in the direc- 
tion of promoting nature-study amongst children. Most of those present were 
strangers to the Society. 
The chair was taken by Mr. J. L. Otter, Hon. Treasurer of the Society. 
The Chairman in an introductory speech referred to the loss of much of the 
natural beauty of the country by the enormous industrial expansion of the last 
fifty years. People rejoice in the “development of our resources,” but the final 
issue under present economic arrangements is dark ; and in the meantime a price 
must be paid, not only in the natural objects and natural scenes which are the 
source of our ideas of beauty and the source of the most purifying pleasures, but 
in the character of many of our fellow-countrymen. The packed life in towns 
leads to degeneracy, and a consequent blunting of sensibility. Sir W. Anson 
only two days before stated in the House of Commons that 60,000 school 
children in London are too inferior physically to get the benefit of the teaching 
in the schools. Smoke is another matter of national concern, or ought to be. 
In the matter of protection the teaching of the Selborne Society is that the 
right place of our wild animals and plants is where Nature has placed them. 
There they show their beauty ; there they show their meaning, and fulfil their 
purposes. Accessible collections are good and even necessary, but the Chairman 
thought that in the case of a very rare plant, if he who takes it for a useful 
collection does well, he who leaves it alone does better. 
With respect to the education of children in nature-study, the object is an 
interfusion of feeling and intellect. There is a mode of feeling towards Nature 
which is unlike any other. It is probably common to most, though in greatly 
varying degree. It is the motive power of some of the finest scientific work. 
There must be this sense of an emotional relation to Nature in both teacher and 
pupil, otherwise not much could be expected. 
An interesting discussion followed, speeches being made by the Rev. G. Moor, 
Vicar of Christ Church : Mr. Freemantle, Master of the Christ Church School, 
who made some valuable remarks on his praclical experience ; Miss Mayhew, 
Principal of the High School for Girls ; Mr. A. Griffith, and Mr. Pankhurst. 
A resolution approving of the work of the Society was carried. 
Several of those present joined the Society, and there is reason to hope that 
this meeting may be the beginning of an active life of the Branch. 
Hampstead (Northern Heights). Referring to the notice in the July 
number of Nature Notes of the scheme for raising ,£48,000 in order to buy 
some eighty acres of land for the purpose of enlarging Hampstead Heath, the 
Selborne Society is represented otr the Extension Council by Messrs. J. E. 
Whiting, C. M. Hailes, and Geo. Avenell. The last named attended the initial 
meeting held at the offices of the Commons and Footpaths Preservation Society, 
Westminster, on )une 26 last, when the necessary steps for launching the scheme 
were determined. A deputation representing different bodies has since waited 
on the Hampstead Borough Council, urging it to vote a grant towards the sum 
required. Mr. Edward Bond, M.P., acted as spokesman, and the Selborne 
Society was represented on the occasion by Mrs. G. S. Jealous, and Messrs. Jesse 
Argyle, C. M. Hailes, and Geo. Avenell. 
FIELD CLUB RAMBLES. 
June 27. — Stanmore and Elstree. Just forty Selbornians and friends took 
part in the ramble, which made, perhaps, a greater demand upon the ambulatory 
