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YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT CROSSHILLS. 



The two hundred and seventy-third gathering of the Union at Crosshills, 

 on Saturday, July 13th, was a pronounced success, due in no small degree 

 to the excellent local arrangements made by Mr. John Holmes and his 

 enthusiastic colleagues of the Crosshills Naturalists' Society. The Ha- 

 worth Ramblers' Association also took part in the excursion, thus swelling 

 the attendance, which was close upon eighty. The weather being ideal, 

 the selected routes gave ample recompense to those who took ad- 

 vantage of the many natural delights which the valleys of Glusburn and 

 Lothersdale afforded. The geologists were under the guidance of Mr. John 

 Holmes and the naturalists were led by Mr. H. Cowling. The latter 

 party had also the company of the local historian, Mr. John Stell, who gave 

 valuable and interesting information concerning the residences at Malsis 

 and Carr Head and other places of interest along the route traversed. 



The meeting at the close of the excursion was held in the Glusburn 

 Institute. Dr. A. Gilligan, F.G.S., presiding. Excellent sectional reports 

 were given by Mr. J. Holmes on geology ; Mr. G. Fysher on conchology ; 

 Mr. H. Cowling on flowering plants ; Mr. C. A. Cheetham on mosses ; 

 Mr. R. F. Jones on fungi ; Mr. H. B. Booth on vertebrate zoology ; Mr. 

 R. Butterfield on entomology. A vote of thanks to the landowners for 

 the privileges so kindly granted to visit their estates, to the guides, and 

 to the members of the Crosshills Naturalists' Society for the local arrange- 

 ments, was heartily carried on the motion of Mr. W. P. Winter, B.Sc, 

 seconded by Dr. Woodhead, M.Sc. — W.E.L.W. 



Vertebrate Zoology. — Mr. H. B. Booth writes : — Perhaps the most 

 interesting birds noticed were two separate parties of Bullfinches and a 

 Kestrel. Spotted Flycatchers and Magpies were numerous. But the 

 number of birds seen was scarcely up to expectations in such a charming 

 district, even in July. The scantiness of undergrowth in the woods 

 would no doubt chiefly account for the scarcity of the Warblers in the 

 district investigated. Many species, usually generally distributed, such as 

 Yellow and Pied Wagtails, Skylarks, Tree and Meadow Pipits, etc., were 

 either absent or uncommon. 



CoNCHOLOGY. — Mr. Greevz Fysher writes : — The Conchologists 

 traversed the Glusburn Valley, and noted Vitrina pellucida, Hyalinia 

 alliaria, Succinea putris, Planorbis albiis, Liinncea peregra, Valvata 

 piscinalis, Palitdestrina jenkinsi, Sphcerium corneum, S. lacustre, Pisidium 

 subtruncatiDn. 



Hymenoptera, Diptera and Hemiptera. — Mr. R. Butterfield 

 reports : — On the heads of thistles the inquiline bees Psithyrus qiiadricolor 

 Lep., P. canipestris Panz., and a variety of P. vestalis Fourc, were seen. 

 During sunshine the handsome flies Vohtcella pelhisens L., and Chrysoioxum 

 arcuatmn L. were seen in the gardens at Carr Head. By sweeping near 

 Carr Head I captured a number of Hemiptera, the Psyllidae being partic- 

 ularly abundant. 



Botany : Alg.e. — Mr. Alfred Wilman reports that he found Melosira 

 rarians Aq. in Gill Beck together with three species of Spirogyra in 

 conjugation. 



Flowering Plants. — Mr. Wattam writes : — Charming indeed is the 

 wooded valley of Glusburn, and the typical flora of the grits and boulder 

 clay was ever pleasing. Portions of the waters of the lake in the grounds 

 at Malsis were gay with the blooms of Nuphar litteum and alongside the 

 borders Menyanthes trifoliaia, still displaying a few blossoms, thrives 

 wonderfully well, and there are some well established clumps of Lythrwm 

 salicaria. On leaving these grounds the route traversed lay alongside the 

 beck as far as the ruined mill at Cowling Head. Lactuca niuralis, Crepis 

 pa'udosa, Campanula laiifolia, and Orchis macitlata were not uncommon 

 plants, and just beyond the inill there is an abundance of Equisetum 

 maximum ; Polypodium vulgare was also noted. The Bird Cherry is a 



1918 Sept. I. 



