THE NATURALIST 
For 1915. 
———_—_— J —— 
NOTES AND COMMENTS. 
MR RILEY FORTUNE, E.Z:S: 
This year the selection of the President of the Yorkshire 
Naturalists’ Union rested in the first place with the Zoologists 
on the Executive Committee of the Union, and on their recom- 
mendation the election of Mr. Riley Fortune to that office 
was unanimous. Mr. Riley Fortune is not chosen as a ‘ figure- 
head.’ He is one of the Union’s workers and is rarely absent 
on field excursions or at indoor meetings. He has held various 
offices in the committees under the vertebrate section, and has 
een president of that section. For some years he has done 
valuable work as Hon. Secretary of the Wild Birds’ and Eggs’ 
Protection Committee. He is Chairman of the Yorkshire 
Mammals, etc., Committee, and for some years has rendered 
good service to the Union as Divisional Secretary for the 
North West Division. He has been a great help to this 
journal as referee for vertebrate zoology, and his interesting 
notes are familiar to our readers. His excellent achievements 
with the camera are well-known, and have enriched the pages 
of this and other scientific journals. ‘The Birds of York- 
shire,’ published by the Union a few years ago, contained a 
very large number of his photographs, which he freely placed 
at the service of the editors. We can only repeat a toast 
that we saw on a menu the other day (for even naturalists 
dine), “May Fortune always smile on us.’ 
tHE PLUMAGE. BILL. 
It will be remembered that Yorkshire has always taken a 
prominent part in connection with the passing of Parlia- 
mentary Acts and other measures for the preservation of 
bird life. In connection with the present Plumage Bill, which 
was unfortunately shelved in consequence of the war, at a stage 
in its career when it had every prospect of being passed into 
law, one of the Secretaries of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union 
communicated with each Member of Parliament for York- 
shire asking for his support. This was done at the suggestion 
of the members of the Vertebrate Section of the Union. A 
number did not reply to the letter at all, others would carefully 
consider it, and the following gentlemen definitely promised to | 
support the Bill :—Sir George Scott. Robertson, Sir Luke White, 
1915 Jan. 1. 
