38 Yorkshire Naturalists' Union : Annual Report, 191 7. 



Mr. Wade writes that the Badger holds its own on the 

 Wolds, in spite of much persecution. 



Mr. Roebuck reports a water-shrew dug up in Mr. J. W. 

 Taylor's garden at Horsforth. 



'Mr. W. Greaves (Hebden Bridge) and Mr. Hewett (York) 

 report that during the severe weather rabbits perished in great 

 numbers in their districts. 



Mr. W. J. Clarke (Scarborough) writes : — Several Porbeagle 

 Sharks have been recorded during August and September ; a 

 slice from one of these proved very good food. An adult female 

 Lesser Spotted Dog-fish, containing eggs ready for extrusion, 

 was taken at Scarborough, upon a fisherman's line, on qth 

 February, 1917. 



Mr. H. B. Booth reports that a Seal, probably a specimen 

 of Phoca vitulina, was killed in the Wharfe, just below Tadcaster, 

 in mid-March, 1917. A large Badger (35 lbs.) was killed near 

 Bolton Abbey. 



Mr. F. Rhodes reports that the Palmated Newt appeared 

 to be uncommonly scarce on the moors, the scarcity being 

 probably due to the severe winter. 



WILD BIRDS AND EGGS PROTECTION COMMITTEE. 



Spuex. — Mr. Johnson Wilkinson writes : — LTnfortunately 

 we have not been able to do any w^atching this Season. The 

 Lighthouse-keeper and his assistant proferred their assistance, 

 but could get no reply from Trinity House. 



Mr. E. W. Wade informs me that a stringent prohibition 

 against disturbing the birds had been issued by the General, 

 and the Officers of the R.G.A. at Spurn interested themselves 

 in the enforcement of this. He had kept in touch with Major 

 T. T. Phelps, Intelligence Dept., Humber Garrison, on the 

 subject, and on 30th June, Major Pauley, stationed at Spurn, 

 kindly undertook to see that all eggs were marked with indelible 

 pencil. He reported that he had seen many eggs, but these 

 are scarcer than last year. 



Bemptox. — Unfortunately the Peregrines have not bred 

 this Season. One old Falcon has been seen several times, as 

 late as June 7th ; we can only hope it may find a mate for next 

 Season. There has been only one set of egg-gatherers during 

 the day time ; others have gathered during the evening. The 

 Season has been a good one. 



North Yorkshire. — Only one young Falcon has been 

 hatched ; it got safely away by July 9th. 



Hornsea Mere. — This place has been very quiet, there 

 being no bombing ; consequently all eggs have hatched well 

 although the numbers of various birds were smaller than usual. 

 There has been the usual number of Great Crested Grebe, one 

 nest contained five eggs ; the watcher had never seen more 

 than four in any nest before. No Bearded Tits have been seen. 



Naturalist, 



