Yorkshire Naturalists' Union : Annual Report, 1909. 39 



No matter how unatl.racti\-c a tlistrict may be from a zoological 

 standpoint, there is always something to be learned with regard 

 to the distribution of the birds or other vertebrates. 



By the invitation of the President of the Union, a special 

 meeting was held on September 4th, at his home, for the purpose 

 of inspecting his aviaries, etc. Unfortunately, the day was un- 

 favourable, but those who journeyed to Scampston had a most 

 interesting and enjoyable time, and were most hospitably enter- 

 tained l)y Ml. and ]\Irs. SL Quintin. 



Indoor Meetings. — During the year two meetings were held 

 at Leeds, for the purpose of reading papers and exhibiting slides 

 and specimens. The}' were both very successful events, and 

 well attended. 



West Riding.— Messrs. W. H. Parkin and H. B. Booth 

 report : — Redwings, which had been scarce during the whole of 

 the winter, appeared in good numbers in March, probably on their 

 journej^ northwards. Numbers of duck and other wild fowl have 

 been reported during the past two winters on the large new 

 reservoir of the Bradford Corporation at Gouthwaite — where they 

 are fairly safe from molestation. This large expanse of water will 

 probably attract wild fowl in winter to the detriment of smaller 

 sheets of water in the district. Some wild ^^^hooper Swans were 

 captured and pinioned on the lake at Harewood House last winter, 

 and have since remained in a semi-domesticated state. 



A feature of the season has been the number of species of 

 shore-birds (Waders) in the West Riding. A Bar-tailed Godwit 

 was shot out of a flock of at least a hundred, which alighted 

 in a field near Holden Ghyll on the evening of May 17th (Crosshillf 

 Naturalists' Societ}'). Three Ringed Plovers were noted at 

 Malham Tarn on Ma}/ loth, and one was still there on May 23rd, 

 but no trace could be discovered of their nesting. An adult 

 Sanderling was shot on the moors near Long Preston, on August 

 14th (W. Wilson). Two Curlew-Sandpipers, a Little Stint, a 

 Green Sandpiper and some Ringed Plovers were carefully identi- 

 fied in August b}/ several members of the Hebden Bridge I^iterary 

 and Scientific Society. Oystercatchers were noted in April and 

 in August (four). 



The arrival of the summer migrants was more normal, and 

 not so late as in the two preceding seasons — Nightjars and Swifts 

 were unusually early in arriving. 



Corncrakes again immigrated in fewer numbers. If this rate 

 of decrease continues, the species will soon be uncommon in the 

 Riding. On the other hand. Starlings continue to multiply 

 and would appear to have already over-reached their food 

 supply. The same thing apphes to the Rooks, but in a lesser 

 degree. 



The widespread visitation of Crossbills in July was represented 

 in the West Riding by one that was killed by the telegraph wires 



igio Jan. i. 



