33 



that we must seek the answer to such inquiries as these : it is hy 

 the patient accumulation of facts, and hy their interpretation 

 according to the sound laws of archaeological criticism, not 

 through the premature speculations and misdirected erudition 

 of the antiquaries of the last century, that we can hope to supply 

 those details which are wanting to complete the delineation of 

 ancient British life. 



I remain, my dear Sir, 



Yours very truly, 



CHARLES NEWTON. 

 John Phillips, Esq., &c., &c. 



The following paper was then read hy Mr. Charlesworth, " on 

 the occurrence near Tadcaster of a specimen of Larus Rossii, 

 (Ross's Rosy Gull), one of the rarest known birds and new to 

 British Ornithology.''* 



A short time since I was shewn by Mr. Graham, (the very 

 excellent bird-preserver in Spurriergate,) a beautiful Gull which 

 had been shot near Tadcaster, and its characters not agreeing 

 with those of any species appearing in Mr. Yarrell's History of 

 British Birds, with the permission of its owner, and of William 

 Milner, Esq., of Nun Appleton, to whom the opportunity of 

 purchasing the specimen had been promised, I sent it to Mr. 

 Yarrell, stating at the same time, that if the Gull were new or 

 rare as a British Bird, any information upon the subject would 

 be highly acceptable for publication in the " Proceedings" of 

 this Society. From Mr. Yarrell's acknowledgment* of the 

 receipt of the Bird, and obliging reply to my inquiries, I 

 make the following extract : — 



" The sight of the Gull enables me to send you so many 

 references to this species that any remarks from me will be 

 superfluous, beyond noticing that, as far as I am aware, it is not 

 only a very rare bird, but also quite new to our British Cata- 

 logue. This last remark may require explanation, because 



• Dated Byder-street, St. James's, March 23rd, 1847. 



