120 



NORTHERN NEWS. 



The death is announced of li. J. Spitta, the niicroscopist, at the age 

 of 68. 



The death is announced of James Reeve, wlio was for so many years 

 Curator of the Norwich Museum. 



The death is reported of H. H. Win wood, a well-known geologist 

 in the west of England, at the age of 90. 



The death of ^Michael Waller, of Hull, in his 77th year has occurred. 

 He was a keen collector of natural history objects, and devoted much 

 time in lecturing on his natural history rambles, to young people and 

 others. He had a large collection of miscellaneous natural history 

 objects. 



The farmers of Northampton are asking the County Council to exclude 

 the Lark from the Wild Birds' Protection Order. It is remarkable that 

 thev should be so careless of their own interests as to endeavour to exclude 

 such a useful bird from the benefits of protection. The same body state 

 that they suspect the Starling as a conveyor of foot and naouth disease, 

 and upon these groimds, for which they have no justification, arc urging 

 the destruction of these birds. 



More than a passing word is necessary on the death of Charles Edward 

 Faf^an, for many years one of the best-known figures at the Natural 

 History Museum in London. For over thirty years he was Secretary, 

 and year by year the administration was more and more thrust upon 

 him until he broke down under the strain. He was only 65, had been 

 in the service of the Trustees, we believe, 47 years, and was about to retire 

 and enjoy a well-earned leisure. His loss will be severely felt by the 

 Institution and by his numerous personal friends. Those interested will 

 find an exceedingly able and correct appreciation in The Field, 5th 

 Febiuarv, p. 175- 



The annual meeting of the Selby Scientific Society was held in the 

 Museum Hall recently. Capt. C. H. March presided over a good attend- 

 ance. The reports for the year wei-e of a healthy and satisfactory character. 

 The Society has now acquired a projection lantern. Mr. J. F. JNIusham 

 read the Secretary's report, which recorded an increase in membership, 

 and a total number of 165 on the books. The field meetings had been 

 successful. Recorders for various sections presented reports : Botanical, 

 Mr. J. B. Foggitt ; Zoology, Mr. J. F. Musham ; Photography, Messrs. T. 

 Howden and A. Hutchinson. Mr. W. E. Hodgson presented the trccis- 

 urer's report, which showed a satisfactory year's working, and that the 

 small balance due on the lantern fund had been extinguished. The 

 following were then elected for 1921 : — President, Mr. A. Hutchinson ; 

 Secretary, Mr. J. F. Musham ; Treasurer, Mr. W. E. Hodgson ; Dele- 

 gates to Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, Mr. W. N. Cheeseman, J. P., 

 Mr. J. F. Musham, Mr. J. H. Brook. 



There was a large attendance of members at the annual meeting of 

 the Halifax Scientific Society, held recently. Mr. J. H. Lumb stated 

 that the Society had had another successful year. At the end of 19 19 

 they had a membership of 198, and they had lost four members by death, 

 seven had resigned, and twenty-five new members had been elected, 

 bringing the membership to 212. The average attendance at the lectures 

 had 'been 93. A visit to the Courier office had been highly appreciated. 

 Miss Pearcy (Hon. Treasurer) stated that they started the year with a 

 balance in hand of £5 iis. lod. Expenditure this year amounted, with 

 theirpresent balance in hand, of 1.5s. 7.UI., to ;^33 i^s. 2d. The Chairman, 

 in moving the adoption of the reports, said that the lectures last year had 

 been up to their usual standard. The membership of the society was 

 higher than it had ever been before, and the attendances at the lectures 

 had been good. The officers were re-elected as follows : — President, 

 Mr. H. Waterworth ; Hon. Sees., J. H. Lumb and H. E. Greenwood ; 

 Hon. Treasurer, Miss Pearcy. 



Naturalist 



