142 Yorkshire Zoologists. 
observations made during 1906-7-8. Undoubtedly in Aire- 
dale the staple food is the Three-spined Stickleback, but in the 
neighbouring valley where the Minnow predominates, practi- 
cally no bones of the former were to be found. 
Mr. W. Wilson had a pair under observation from a hiding- 
tent and noticed that not a single Stickleback had been brought 
to the young. Do the parents feed on these, which, owing to 
the spines, they refrain from offering to the young ? 
Mr. Oxley Grabham referred to a reported record Roach 
taken in Hornsea Mere weighing 2-lbs. 154-0ozs.—the official 
British record being 2-lbs. 5-ozs. Mr. Proctor had no doubt 
the fish was a Roach-Rudd hybrid which are not uncommon, 
and attain higher figures than the Roach. 
Dr. Corbett exhibited a stuffed specimen of the Sooty 
Tern—a southern hemisphere breeder, obtained near Doncaster 
some years ago by a local gamekeeper. 
In the absence of Mr. E. W. Taylor, who is serving with 
His Majesty’s forces, his paper, ‘ Notes on the Extinct Great 
Auk,’ was read by Mr. Proctor who successfully deciphered the 
hieroglyphic MS. into an exceedingly interesting report or 
resumé of all that is known of this once abundant species— 
the Garefowl or Great Auk. 
The prevalent idea that the bird was an arctic species was 
refuted by the fact that not even a casual occurrence had been 
reported from the arctic circle, and its most northerly breeding 
station was the Geisfiyl Rocks on the Iceland coast, 63/64° N. 
All the known breeding stations were enumerated with many 
particulars of the few last survivors, most of which are well- 
known specimens in various collections. The recent history 
of these, together with records of the authentic eggs, were 
detailed, and the interest of the paper was enhanced by the 
exhibition of the coloured plate, the property of Mr. Hewett, 
depicting two of the best specimens of eggs, and two lantern 
slides of the bird. 
Mr. Oxley Grabham gave a delightful lecture on ‘ Yorkshire 
Reptiles,’ illustrated by numerous slides on the lantern. From 
personal observation made of the various species of reptiles 
and batrachians in the wild state and in captivity, a most 
comprehensive life history of each was related. 
Mr. E. W. Wade mentioned the vitality of the Adder and 
the resuscitation of an apparently long dead specimen hung 
up by the tail as a trophy. Mr. Wade also drew attention to 
the presence of frogs in many of the higher tarns in the Lake 
District. 
Mr. S. H. Smith, who has been working assiduously in 
photographing our Yorkshire Freshwater fishes through the 
medium of an aquarium, shewed the result in a fine series of 
slides. The lecturer drew attention to the marked difference 

Naturalist, 
