Magnificently Illustrated in Colours, Uniformly Printed in Imperial Folio Size, and comprising: ... The Birds of Europe, with 449 coloured plates ... ... The Mammals of Australia, with 180 coloured plates ... ... ... ... ... ... The Birds of Great Britain, with 367 coloured plates ... ... ... The Odontophorinæ or Partridges of America, with 32 coloured plates The Birds of Asia, with nearly 500 coloured plates FORMING TOGETHER 43 VOLUMES IMPERIAL FOLIO (the Most Remarkable Series ever Produced in the Annals of Natural History). FULL PARTICULARS ON APPLICATION, As also Catalogue of Other Works now in Progress or Recently Completed. SOTHERAN'S PRICE CURRENT OF LITERATURE: The forthcoming No., for May 20th, will contain many rare and choice Works from recent important sales, besides numerous good Books in Standard Literature; also a separate and extensive collection of Works on Political Economy. A COPY, POST FREE, ON APPLICATION. London: 136, Strand, W.C. and 36, Piccadilly, W. Mature Motes: The Selborne Society's Magazine. No. 5. MAY 15, 1890. VOL. I. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SELBORNE SOCIETY. HE Annual General Meeting of the Society was held at Burlington Hall, Savile Row, on Thursday, May 1st, 1890, Dr. George Harley, F.R.S., in the chair. The following brief report of the Council for the year ending April 30th, 1890, was read and adopted : "There has been a very satisfactory increase in the number of members, and new branches have been formed at Chichester, Guildford, Liverpool, Nottingham, Brighton, Bloomsbury (Atalanta), Dorking and Epsom (Evelyn), Southampton and New Forest, Neston, and Forth: the last is the first branch established in Scotland. "In November the editor of The Selborne Magazine withdrew from the management for the Society of that periodical; and the Council thereupon thought it desirable to found a new monthly Magazine. The first number appeared in January under the title of NATURE NOTES. The Rev. Percy Myles and Mr. James Britten of the British Museum have undertaken the editing of the Magazine, and a standing Committee for the management of all matters other than literary has been appointed. The Council is pleased to be able to announce that NATURE NOTES has been very favourably received by the public and the press, and that its circulation and influence are increasing with every issue. The scope and purpose of the new Magazine have been fully explained in a circular letter sent to all members of the Society, and copies of a leaflet setting forth its programme and the objects of the Society may be had for distribution on application at the Society's Office." The following very satisfactory financial statement for the year ending December 31st, 1889, was then read and adopted : The proposal that the contributions of the branches to the General Fund should be not less than 10 per cent. of their gross receipts was agreed to. The following are the more important of the alterations in the General Rules, which were recommended by the Council and approved by the meeting. "That the officers of the Society, except the Trustees, shall hold office for one year (instead of two as previously). "That branches be empowered to elect representatives to serve on the Council in the proportion of one representative to fifty members, provided that a branch consisting of less than fifty members shall elect one representative. And— "That a representative of a branch, not residing in London, may appoint a proxy to serve in his stead at meetings of the Council." Mr. Musgrave was unanimously elected co-trustee with Sir John Lubbock. Some additional Vice-Presidents and a new Council were also elected. The new list of the officers of the Society is as follows:: PATRONESS. HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS CHRISTIAN. PRESIDENT. THE LORD TENNYSON. TRUSTEES. Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.R.S., M.P., &c., James Britten, Esq., F.L.S. F. Dillon, Esq., R.I. Miss H. Hope. Professor F. E. Hulme, F.L.S. The Rev. G. E. Mackie, M.A. COUNCIL. A. Halté Macpherson, Esq. The Rev. Percy Myles, B. A., F.L.S. J. L. Otter, Esq., Hon. Treas. W. White, Esq., F.S.A. The Rev. Theodore Wood, F.E.S. (With Representatives elected by the Branches.) HON. TREASURER: J. L. Otter, Esq., 3, Dr. Johnson's Buildings, Temple, E.C. SECRETARY: A. J. Western, Esq., 9, Adam Street, Adelphi, W.C. We feel bound to congratulate the members of our Society on its present flourishing condition. During the past few months it has developed a greatly increased amount of energy on the part of its officers, and the result has been most satisfactory, both with regard to the growth of the Society in numbers, and the dissemination of its principles far and wide. It has on its side a sympathetic press (most of the leading newspapers giving a hearty support to its platform), and a daily increasing body of public opinion. Although it has lately passed through a period of anxiety which called forth the utmost efforts of all its wellwishers, it is now stronger than ever, and constitutes a powerful body which may have a very real effect in checking the ravages of destroyers, and in educating the public to sound views on the subject of nature-preservation. ACCESS TO MOUNTAINS BILL. N the first article of the March number of NATURE NOTES, Mr. George Murray, dealing with the Glen Doll Right of Way, wrote as follows:-" Nothing could be more popular than the reception given to Mr. Bryce's Access to Mountains Bill of a few years ago. What has become of it? If there is any young politician desirous of the popular canonization so properly bestowed on Sir John Lubbock for a measure of benefit to the people which all feel and recognize, let him take up the Access to Mountains Bill." It is evident that the legislation suggested by Mr. Murray will not fall to the ground for want of ardent support on the part of some Members of Parliament. Since his article was written, there has been an important division on Mr. Buchanan's Right of Way (Scotland) Bill. The Government has actually been defeated, and the measure carried by 110 votes to 97. Mr. Bryce's Access to Mountains (Scotland) Bill has not been so fortunate. Mr. Bryce's Bill deserves the support of all lovers of Nature, whatever be their nationality. As the Daily News says:"It is by no means a merely Scottish measure. It is of as much importance to Englishmen as to Scotchmen; indeed, it is the tourist and the traveller who are most interested in it. The object of the measure is to keep open the uncultivated mountain and moor lands of Scotland to any person walking or being on such lands for purposes of recreation, or scientific, or artistic study.' It is fenced round with careful provisions against abuse, and would secure the rights of the public without injuring those of the landed proprietor." The Bill stood second on the paper in the House of Commons on May 7th; but unfortunately its opponents went on talking on the Charitable Trusts Bill till all the time was gone, and accordingly the opportunity was lost. In the programme of NATURE NOTES we dwelt on the importance of keeping an eye on legislative measures which affect the objects which we are pledged to support, and expressed a hope that the Selborne Society's Magazine would be “ a medium by which supporters may be rallied for the advancement of good measures, and stout resistance offered to bad ones." The Access to Mountains Bill is an excellent example of the good measures for which we desire to obtain supporters. We hope that all Selbornians will use their utmost efforts to put pressure upon their representatives in Parliament; and we can promise both young and old politicians that if they do not actually attain the "canonization" spoken of by Mr. Murray, they will by their support of this admirable measure earn the gratitude of very many lovers of Nature, no matter to what political party they may belong. 66 THE REV. J. G. WOOD.* ¡HE number of scientists is increasing among us. Lord Beaconsfield told us some years since that young ladies prattled of evolution" in the drawing-room, and the fashion has steadily gained ground ever since. The pens of various versatile writers are never more at home than *The Rev. J. G. Wood: his Life and Work. By the Rev. Theodore Wood. London: Cassell and Co.; price 10s. 6d. |