Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union: Annual Report, 1914. 35 
Mr. Rosse Butterfield, (Keighley), Dr. E. O. Croft, (Leeds), Dr. 
W. J. Fordham (Bubwith), Mr. Greevz Fysher (Leeds), Mr. John 
Holmes (Crosshills), Mr. W. H. Burrell (Leeds), and Mr. F. H. 
Edmondson (Keighley). 
SECTIONAL COMMITTEES.—The General Permanent Committee 
has accepted the recommendations of the Executive as to the 
reconstitution of the Sectional Committees. A new Section, 
Section A, General Biology, has been added, under which the 
Marine Biology Committee and Micro-Biology Committee have 
been placed. The Committee of Suggestions for Research, having 
accomplished its work, has been dissolved. 
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY SECTION. 
West Rip1nG REportT.—Mr. Riley Fortune writes :— Summer 
migrants arrived in many instances somewhat earlier than their 
average time. This was especially noticeable in the case of 
Swifts. The average date of arrival in the West Riding is May 
6th., near Harrogate they arrived on April 28th., a date unpreced- 
ented. On May 2nd. and 3rd., | saw some fniereds of these 
birds in the Wharfe valley near Otley. The first Hooded Crow 
was seen at Harrogate on October 5th., much the earliest record 
I have. 
Nesting commenced early and continued late. In the Harro- 
gate district a pair of Starlings and several Dippers were feeding 
young in the last week of March. A Sparrow was seen carrying 
nesting materials on October 17th. 
Game birds appear to have done very well, particularly 
Partridges, the absence of heavy thunderstorms during the 
hatching period being especially favourable to them. 
Many species continue to decrease in numbers, this is partic- 
ularly the case with Whinchats, Redstarts and Grasshopper 
Warblers. Corncrakes have not been nearly so abundant as 
last year and Spotted Flycatchers have shown a great falling 
off in numbers. 
The almost sensational “‘setback’’ to the annual increase 
of our local starlings has not been accentuated. 
A Bittern was unfortunately shot in ignorance of its identity 
in January, after its second appearance at a pond in a private 
garden, where gold fish were preserved. 
Mr.’ Alfred Kaye reports a pair of Dotterel on their old 
resting ground at Lindley, near Huddersfield, on May 13th: the 
last record being for May 21st, 1906. 
Mr. Booth has investigated the doubtful addition to the 
Yorkshire aviafauna, in the shape of a Black-headed Bunting, 
(Emberiza melanocephala), vide the “ Bull. B.O. Club.” No. 
CXCVIII, and The Naturalist 1914, pp. 201-2, and it has proved 
to be much more doubtful, after investigation. 
»”) 
1915 Jan. i. 
