264 



YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT MARKET WEIQHTON. 



Quite a representative gathering of members of the Union assembled 

 at Market Weighton on Saturday, 15th June. Owing to the restricted 

 train service the time at the visitors' disposal was curtailed and only a 

 limited area was traversed. Under the guidance of Mr. J. F. Robinson 

 the botanical party proceeded to the old Canal and spent their time in 

 an examination of the flora of a portion of this disused waterway, the return 

 journey being made over the cultivated Common. The geologists, led 

 by Mr. J. W. Stather, explored the Goodmanham Valley, and walked 

 over the Wolds to Arras and Hesslekew, returning by the Beverley Road. 

 At the meeting held at the close of the Excursion, Mr. Thomas Sheppard, 

 M.Sc, presiding, thanks were accorded to Mr. Stather for making the 

 local arrangements. It was also resolved that a vote of condolence 

 be sent to Dr. H. H. Corbett in the loss he had sustained by the death 

 of Mrs. Corbett. W.E.L.W. 



CoNCHOLOGY. — Mr. J. A. Hargreaves reports that he obtained the 

 following species from the old Canal, viz., Limncea peregra, Planorbis 

 carinatus, P. fontanus, P. vortex, P. albus, Physa foniinalis, Bithynia 

 tentaculata, Valvata piscinalis and SphcBriimi cornenm. 



Mr. Greevz Fysher reported that varioiis localities had been examined. 

 In the stagnant end of the Canal on the Selby road were found several 

 Limncea auricularia var. acuta, L. peregra, one Physa foniinalis, a few 

 Planorbis carinatus, one PI. spirorbis var. rotundata, one Valvata piscinalis, 

 Bithynia tentaculata and Sphcerium corneum — and a caddis-case was cov- 

 ered with V. piscinalis and Planorbis fontanus. In the stream which 

 feeds the Canal near the Reformatory were L. peregra, Ancylus flitviatilis, 

 and on a caddis-case numerous Planorbis crista and one Pyramidula 

 rotundata. In the same neighbourhood were found a few Zua lubrica, 

 small examples of Hyalinia nitidula, and one Hygroinia rufescens. In 

 the Goodmanham valley, mostly from nettle-beds, were collected Helix 

 nemoralis (dead), H. hortensis var. lutea 12345 and 00000 (one each), 

 a few Helicellavirgata (three), H. caperata (a few), a few Hygromia hispida 

 var. riibens, Hyalinia cellaria (a few), H. nitidula (a few), one Zua lubrica 

 and several Limvcsa peregra. 



Flowering Plants. — Mr. J. F. Robinson writes : — Although brilliant 

 sunshine for the most part, tempered bj'' fairly strong breezes from the 

 west, favoured the meeting, three or four hours were all too short a time 

 to do justice even to the small circuit made by the botanical contingent. 

 From the rendezvous a walk towards Holme-on-Spalding Moor took us 

 to Canal Head, thence to the first old lock and River Head ; after which, 

 the bank of the chalk-gravel beck across Market Weighton Common 

 brought us back to the starting place. Wild roses (all canina) and elder 

 blossoms made the high road not an unpleasant path between great 

 fields of rye, just now on the ear ; and of carrot and of peas in blossom, as 

 well as, of course, a huge cultivation of wheat and other cereals. It was 

 observed on the occasion of our visit that the ' great sand-field ' required 

 much rain. 



The bit of old Canal from the Head to the first lock is now very shallow 

 and almost dried up in places. Much overgrown, too, is it by jungles of 

 the reeds Phragmites and Poa aquatica. In the shallow water t±iere was 

 abundance of the water crowfoot Ranunculus circinatus, 'flowering 

 profusely, and also submerged species of duckweed (notably Lemna 

 trisulca) and an evil-smelling cryptogam — Chara fragilis (? sp.). 



Myosotis ccespitosa seemed to be commoner in the wet places than 

 M. palustris, the true forget-me-not. Gipsywort (Lycopus) and Rumex 

 Hydrolapathum, the tallest of our docks, with its fine upright, lanceolate 

 leaves invested with a bluish bloom, were also in evidence ; the latter very 

 much so. Orchis latifolia was common. 



Perhaps nothing very rare was found along the length of the chalk- 

 Naturalist 



