Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union: Annual Report, 1910. 45 
year, and to know that we have now a reserve fund, which can 
be applied to any sudden and unexpected call that may be 
made upon us. This happy result has been brought about entirely 
by the exertions of our President, Mr. W. H. St. Quintin. 
Both at Spurn and Hornsea watchers were employed during 
the whole of the breeding season, and in both localities a successful 
nesting season has been experienced. 
At Bempton the Peregrines have again nested successfully, 
and for the first time have reared three young ones. 
The Stone Curlews have been well looked after in one locality, 
and five pairs are reported to have nested. 
Your Secretary has had ‘some correspondence with the Town 
Clerk of Halifax, respecting the destruction of wild birds in their 
boundaries, and at Fly Flatts Reservoir. It was discovered 
that they had no order in force. The Corporation therefore 
decided to apply at once for an order. This was done, and the 
order is now in force. 
The shooting of an Osprey near Pickering, once again draws 
attention to the. unsatisfactory state of protection in the North 
Riding. Your Secretary communicated with the police upon this 
matter, and although they were very willing to prosecute, it 
was unfortunately found that whereas ihe Osprey is protected 
all the year in the West and East Ridings, it is not protected at 
all in the North. A Sub-Committee, consisting of Messrs. St. 
Quintin, Grabham, Nelson, Booth, and Fortune, has been ap- 
pointed to go thoroughly into this matter with the North Riding 
Council, to see*if an end cannot be put to this deplorable state 
of things. 
Another unfortunate occurrence, again in the North Riding, 
was the robbing of a Peregrine’s eyrie, and the shooting of both 
old birds. Your Secretary did not hear of the case until quite 
recently, so, even had the birds been protected, too long a time 
had elapsed to deal with ihe matter successfully. M mbers are 
urged to report these cases at once to the Secretary. 
The periods for the special protection of the Spurn and 
Hornsea areas expire this year. Your Committee, through the 
President, has applied for an extension of a further five years, 
which the County. Council are willing to grant. The Committee 
is also asking the Council to extend and amend their general 
order somewhat. The slaughter of a Hoopoe at Ganton on 
November 3rd, a bird which is not protected, renders this 
necessary, in order to include this and any other likely rare 
visitors. 
The Committee are about to venture into an experiment to 
try and establish the Bearded Tit at Hornsea Mere, a very likely 
habitat. Our President has undertaken to obtain ten. pairs of 
continental specimens at his own expense, and to keep them in 
his out-door aviary during the winter in order that they may be 
igi Jan. 1. 
