ting, I usually take them for a walk, pointing out various objects in the lanes and fields, and they are told to gather a certain number of flowers, which are subsequently dried, and on wet days are arranged in a book which each child has given them. Already there is a noticeable improvement in the neatness of their books--they now never forget to gather a leaf as well as the flower. I never allow the whole plant to be taken, not wishing to exterminate rare species, as might be the case if the children were allowed to take the root as well. By writing the names under each specimen the children soon learn what to call them. Not only botany, but geology, or any other subject, when explained to the girls in a simple attractive way, interests them, especially when they can be illustrated by things that they see in their walks. A peep through the microscope is a great treat, and they are always eager to bring an object to examine. But I think even if the children look to the meetings for amusement rather than instruction, still in time they will grow to take more interest in natural history for its own sake, and will appreciate the many beauties of nature to be found in their native Devon. This year I hope to give the elder ones books in which to write the first blossoming of plants, the appearance of migratory birds, &c., so that each may compare notes, and I hope by and by if our Society continues, and is as successful as it promises to be, to arrange for lectures during the winter months. I may add that each child is given, on joining the Society, a card of admission which contains a promise to abide by the rules. These rules are obliged to be short and simple, but they strictly forbid the wanton destruction of any living creature, and the taking of birds' nests by any member of the society."

A Musical Cat.-I have lately become acquainted with a musical cat, about whom I thought the children would like to hear. It is a black and white tom cat, and very large for his age, which is nine months. A very musical gentleman and his wife often visit the house, and Imp is very fond of them, and keeps as near them as he can. If they do not begin playing very soon after their arrival, he runs to the place where the violins are kept, and scratches the cases until some one gets them out. Once when the music had stopped for some while, and Imp had not had enough, he got on the keyboard of the piano and attracted attention by the noise he made walking over it. His favourite place when listening to the music is in his mistress's lap, with his head usually towards the performer; the whole time his ears go backwards and forwards, and he seems to be perfectly wrapped up in it. Once he had caught a mouse and was playing with it when he heard the violin beginning, and rushed off, leaving mousie to escape. He found the door of the room closed, so he sat on the mat with his ear close to the door, until some one finding him so let him in.

ЈАКЕ.

SELBORNIANA.

Destruction of Ferns.-We are much gladdened by Mr. Wheatcroft's cheering news from the North, contained in his article "Visit to Lakeland,” p. 191, and much inclined to answer in the affirmative his question-Has the Selborne Society had anything to do with this? Mr. Wheatcroft, writing later, says, "My friend, writing from Ambleside, observes, 'You are quite right in regard to the business of the fern dealers not being so brisk as formerly. The old man who used to deal in them largely has told me several times that the trade was not worth the trouble. Of course at one time it was very profitable. He has now left the district, but I believe gave up the fern business entirely some time before leaving. Two days ago I had some conversation with a man who is much interested in ferns and he told me the same thing. Some years ago there were three or four persons at least who gave their whole time during summer to the business. Now we have not one. The excursionist is content to take home a handful of some common variety of plant, and the botanist, unless he has some one to show him the habitat of the rare kinds, has not time, as a rule, to hunt for himself.' This

is the experience of a man who has, I believe, spent the whole of his life in the Lake District and is a close observer."

Unfortunately we have a very different account of the operations of the fern stealers of the South. The Rev. H. D. Gordon, who never ceases in his efforts to protect the birds and plants of Sussex, sends us the following letter, addressed to him by Miss Richards, the Hon. Sec. at Midhurst (Rother Valley) Branch of the Selborne Society :—“ Can you do anything to save our poor ferns? Last Monday I saw on the high road between Trotton and Terwick a man, who looked like a London rough, with a cart containing three enormous hampers. The cart was drawn up to the side of the road, and the man was in the hedge pulling up ferns as fast as he could; and I have no doubt that in the course of the afternoon he filled his baskets (each one of which was as large as the baskets they use for gathering hops in) and sent them off to London, while he himself went off to fresh woods and pastures new.' It is sad, especially when one knows how very little chance there is of one of those ferns living for more than a few weeks. All round Midhurst the hedges have been stripped of ferns, though I hear that rare varieties were formerly to be found in the neighbourhood." Mr. Gordon fully corroborates Miss Richards' account of devastation, and reiterates her query, "What is to be done?" To this question it is very hard to give a direct reply. We fear it is hopeless to apply coercive measures to these depredators in most cases. Judging from Mr. Wheatcroft's statement, it seems that the best method of averting such spoliation would be to extend the influence of the Selborne Society. lt would be well, also, if our members would resolutely refuse to patronise the itinerant hawkers who make desolate so many spots and exterminate some of our most beautiful plants.

we

Wanton Destruction of Rare Birds.—Mr. G. T. Rope, from whom often receive valuable communications as to the evil deeds of bird destroyers, writes that in the district round Wickham Market, in Suffolk, the Wild Birds' Preservation Act is almost a dead letter. The same tidings reaches us from several other quarters. Perhaps one reason why legislation in this direction is so inoperative is the fact that those whose duty it is to carry out the laws are sometimes to be counted among the most active law-breakers themselves. Correspondents often remind us that the "magistrates, officers and gentlemen,' who are entitled to fix the hardly honourable appendage "late of Grassholme," to their names, are not by any means such unique specimens as we had at first fondly supposed. In other cases, while not breaking the letter of the law, they set an evil example in their efforts to exterminate some of our rarest and most beautiful birds. For example, Lieut.-Colonel Watson writes to the Field as follows :-" A gentleman possessing large farins on Lavington Downs, boasted to me that he had shot two beautiful wild peregrines' last October, and two more last spring. These were destroyed, not because they were suspected of doing harm to the hares and few partridges concealed in roots and deep covert, nor for the purpose of being put in a glass case, but simply to be cast aside into the nearest hedge. In Ireland a gentleman living at Cappoquin, and a magistrate, ravages the coast for miles for peregrines' eggs, and those of that beautiful and rare bird the Cornish chough, only for the ignoble purpose of sending them to an egg dealer in York for sale." On the other hand, we hear of several instances in which the spread of Selbornian_principles has proved a check to such wanton and cruel destructiveness. For example, Mr. R. M. Watson, the Hon. Sec. of the Lea Valley Branch of the Selborne Society, tells us of a gentleman residing in his district, who on hearing of a white sparrow having been seen on his grounds, took the peremptory and prohibitive step of locking up all the guns in his establishment, and thus securing for the little albino comparative immunity from attack. It may be mentioned that a plump and perky albino hedge sparrow has for several days presented himself among the crowds of starlings, blackbirds, thrushes and robins who are in receipt of out-door relief at the windows of The Grove, Great Stanmore. Contrary to the usual belief that birds so markedly peculiar in colour are persecuted by their fellows of orthodox hue on account of their unconventional garb, this plucky little bird holds his own most defiantly, and refuses to be repelled by any of his more powerful brethren.

A Sociable Kingfisher.-Is the kingfisher a shy bird? I always considered it to be so until some time ago whilst seeking for larva of the elephant hawk moth, the food of which (willow herb and ladies bed straw) is to be found growing on the banks of streams in various parts of the country. Having finished my search, I sat down on the bank of the stream, the vicinity of which abounded with dragon flies and various other insects. It being a glorious day I was tempted to linger, so for amusement I converted the telescope handle of my insect-net into a fishing rod and tried my luck. I had been seated but a few minutes, and my attention was absorbed in watching a pair of green sandpipers, when a fine large kingfisher came flying up the stream towards where I was sitting. I expected on seeing me it would dart aside and regain the stream higher up; but on it came, and to my surprise and pleasure actually alighted on the rod I held in my hand over the stream. (I may state the stream was not more than four to five feet at its widest part.) I scarcely breathed for fear the slightest motion should frighten it away, wondering how long it would remain in its novel position. It looked at me in a friendly sort of way, as much as to say, "I am not at all frightened: we understand each other"; and began to plume its feathers with its long pointed bill, the lovely hues glistening in the sunshine metallic green, merging into blue, then into a beautiful golden bronze, more like a visitor fresh from the tropics than an inhabitant of our northern isle. Having leisurely cleaned and stroked out its feathers with its long beak, it gave itself a shake, then with another finishing pluming, it resumed its flight up stream, alighting on the stump of an old pollard willow overhanging the brook; almost directly after I noticed it plunge into the stream, then in a moment bring up a small fish, which it soon disposed of. It then flew further up, where I lost sight of it round a bend in the stream.

JAMES E. WHITING.

Bees or Flies?--I was walking in the Lake District one hot August day watching the numerous insects that were busy with the flowers. I had been speaking at breakfast of the Grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) and some one had suggested that the so-called false stamens, with their fan-like groups of filaments, giving to the flower the appearance of having as numerous stamens as a ranunculus, were for the purpose of deceiving the bees. But the question now occurred to me: "Is the flower fertilised by bees or by flies?" I began to examine the flowers by the wayside and to notice which were visited by bees and which by flies. I soon found that colour had something to do with it. There were harebells, foxgloves, knapweed and other blue or red flowers, and these were exclusively taken up by the bees--the flies keeping away from them, while the hawkweeds and other yellow flowers had only flies as their guests; so that it would seem that bees, which visit yellow flowers when there are no others, prefer blue and red flowers when these latter are present, and that the flies, unable to compete, have to confine themselves to the yellow flowers. But what about white flowers? These seemed at first to be visited by both, but further investigation shewed that while the meadowsweet and other scented white flowers attract the bees, they leave those without scent, such as yarrow, to the flies. I thus formed the generalisation that blue, red and scented white flowers are fertilised by bees, but that yellow or scentless white flowers are chiefly fertilised by flies, and it seemed to me probable that the scentless white parnassia would be found to be visited rather by flies than bees. I soon came to a swamp where the flower grew in profusion, and was greatly pleased to find that nearly every blossom had a black fly nestling among its stamen-like filaments. I have since often seen bees visiting yellow flowers, but it has always been when there were no blue or red flowers in the neighbourhood. H. A. NESBITT.

Frogs and Toads.-In this neighbourhood (Liphook) toads and frogs are not regarded with as much horror as they are in many places. True it is that some of the villagers do not quite like touching them, not because they fear the poor reptiles spitting fire, but that "folks does say they might poison you." There are many stories told of them, on which many superstitions are founded. They are supposed to be great weather prophets, and not only to foreteli rain and fine, but also heat or cold. If a frog looks a brown colour it is a sign of a wet

OFFICIAL NOTICES, &c.

199

day; if it is green then a fine day may be expected. If they spawn in the middle of ponds, a good harvest and favourable hay season may be looked for; if at the edge of the water it denotes a wet, cold summer. If when walking over the commons you hear "t' toads quirkin' 'mid t' bushes," be certain the morrow will bring a hot, sunny day. There are a few who do believe in poison of frogs and toads, and they account for it in this way. It is because the frogs "take in " all the poison from water. If one be placed in impure water, it will, in a short time, render it pure and even fit to drink, although it itself becomes more poisonous from having absorbed so much, and will harm anything it spits upon. Everyone must know the white froth which surrounds the lava of Cicada spumaria, and which was so plentiful in our gardens and hedges this summer. This is known by the name of "toad-spit," and it is by many firmly believed to be such; therefore any plant, or part of the plant on which it occurs, "had best not be touched." One report states that a frog's mouth is "made up,' or fastened, for half the year; and another saying is, that if a person holds a little frog between their hands until it dies (which the poor thing would soon do), the said person's hands will never perspire again. Frogs are also used medicinally in Yorkshire, for if a child with whooping cough be allowed to suck a small one for a few moments, it will at once be cured, but a piece of thread must first be fastened to the creature's hind leg to prevent it slipping down the patient's throat; because if a frog got into anyone's inside it would never die but continue to grow until it reached a fabulous size.

W. M. E. FOWLER.

A New British Snail.-A field in Isleworth produces a variety of Helix cantiana, differing from the type only in size, the greatest diameter being about fourteen millimetres. This form is the var. minor of Westerlund (definable as similar to the type, but maximuin diameter fifteen millimetres or less), but the name minor being preoccupied by Moquin-Tandon (1855) the Isleworth form, which has not hitherto been recorded for Britain, may be called var. nana. Syon Lodge, Isleworth.

ANNIE S. FENN.

WORK OF BRANCHES, OFFICIAL NOTICES, &c.

THE object of the Selborne Society is to unite lovers of Nature for common study and the defence of natural objects (birds, plants, beautiful landscapes, &c.) against the destruction by which they are constantly menaced. The minimum Annual Subscription (which entitles the subscriber to a monthly copy of the Society's Magazine) is 2s. 6d. All particulars as to membership may be obtained from the Secretary of the Selborne Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi, W. C.

Miss A. B. Harrison, Whitmores, Beckenham, Kent, has kindly undertaken the Secretaryship of the Kent Branch, and we hope that it will before long be re-organized on a firm footing. May we take this opportunity of pointing out to the Hon. Secs. that now is the time to hand over to their respective Branches any outlying members that they may have acquired during the year.

From various quarters news reaches us that Selbornians are not inactive during winter time. The lecture season has (as some irreverent foreigner said of the English summer) set in with its usual severity, and the various Branches of the Selborne Society seem determined to add their quota to that of the other organizations by which the British public is enlightened and amused during the long winter evenings. The Bath Branch of the Selborne Society has arranged to give three lectures at the Literary and Scientific Institution. The circumstance is noteworthy from the fact that the enthusiastic and venerable naturalist, the Rev. Leonard Blomefield, will inaugurate the series with an address on "Records of a Rookery."

The rev. gentleman is a marvel of mental and physical vigour, being one of the nonagenarians still surviving in our midst. Later on J. W. Morris, Esq., F.L.S., will lecture on "The Balance of Life in Nature."

66

The Bath Branch is one of the very oldest departments of the Selborne Society. The Tudor Branch is, we believe, the youngest of a fast growing family, but already displays as much activity as its seniors, judging from the following account of its proceedings. On the 30th of October the Secretary of the Tudor Branch of the Selborne Society (Mr. J. J. Ogle) delivered a lecture on Some Notable Nature Lovers" in the Peel Road Presbyterian Church, Bootle. The lecturer took as typical lives those of Gilbert White, Thomas Edward (the Scotch naturalist), Charles Kingsley, and William Wordsworth, and was listened to with the greatest attention for an hour and and a half, with frequent outbursts of applause. At the close Mr. Ogle was asked to give another lecture at an early date. The second winter meeting of the Tudor Branch took place in the Students' Room Free Library, Bootle, on Friday, November 14th. The Vice-President (Mr. Hugh Reid) read a paper on "Plant Life," which was illustrated by the President (the Mayor of Bootle) by means of an optical lantern. Twenty-three members and visitors were present; two new members were enrolled. The winter programme includes papers on "Selbornian Books," 39 66 Some Aspects of Mrs. Browning's Nature Poetry," "The Work of a River," "The Life History of a Crab," Nature as seen by Charles Dickens,' ," "Some Lowly Forms of Vegetable Life," "Field Operations as described by Virgil in the Georgics." We shall always be glad to have programmes of such courses of lectures for publication in NATURE NOTES, and also reports of the lectures themselves, extracts from which our readers would doubtless be glad to see.

27 66

Mrs. Packham sends, through the Rev. H. D. Gordon, the copy of a magazine for January, 1888, required for Dr. Evans, which has been forwarded. Mr. Cyril J. Turner, of Hurst Road, Bexley, kindly writes as follows:-"I have all the numbers from the commencement unbound, and shall be pleased to give them to any subscriber who wishes to make up volumes."

We have several articles in hand (many of them in print) by the Rev. F. O Morris, Rev. H. D. Gordon, the Rev. Professor G. Henslow, Mr. Archibald L. Clark, Mr. Aubrey Edwards, Mr. A. H. Macpherson, Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell, &c., &c., for which we are quite unable to find room in the present number. Some of these articles we hope to print in the number for January, 1891, in which an addition of four pages will be made to the magazine. In that number we also hope to publish an account of the present most satisfactory position of the Selborne Society, and of the methods by which its magazine has secured, and hopes to continue its great and unforeseen success. In all probability the funds at our disposal will enable the magazine to be permanently enlarged from January, 1891, onwards. This is the only mode by which it will be possible for us to do justice to the articles of our kind contributors, and to give such accounts of the rapidly progressing ramifications of the Selborne Society, as our readers would naturally desire.

We cannot close this volume without returning grateful thanks to the kind friends at Great Stanmore and Richmond by whom, with accuracy and celerity, the index was compiled.

It is particularly requested that subscriptions and letters bearing on the general business of the Society should not be forwarded to the Editors, but to the Secretary of the Selborne Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi. Editorial communications should be addressed to the Rev. PERCY MYLES, I, Argyle Road, Ealing, W.