NOTES AND COMME Wy) eee 
THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. en 
The Council of the British Association, in consultation with 
the local Executive Committee at Manchester, have decided 
that the annual meeting of the Association shall take place in 
that city as arranged, in September next. Both the Committee 
and the Council felt that it would be inexpedient under the 
‘present conditions to offer that elaborate local hospitality in the 
form of social and other arrangements which has been extended 
to the Association on former occasions. The Committee, how- 
ever, desire that the long continuity of yearly meetings should 
not be broken, and would prefer that the meeting should be 
held, although restricted to its more scientific functions. 
PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
We have recently received from Messrs. J. E. Clark and R. 
H. Hooker a copy of a very valuable report of Phenological 
Observations. It includes most useful information with 
regard to dates of flowering of plants, the dates of song and 
migration of birds, the first appearance of insects, etc., all very 
carefully classified and commented upon. Mr. Clark informs 
us that he has been fortunate in securing the co-operation of 
thirteen observers in the West Riding, but at present there is 
only one each for the North and East Ridings. We feel sure 
there are many naturalists who would be willing to assist 
him. The work is not difficult. Possibly any who may feel 
disposed will communicate with Mr. Clark, ‘ Asgarth,’ Riddes- 
down Road, Purley, Surrey. 
RECORDS OF NEW BRITISH BIRDS. 
We notice that the editor of British Birds in his publication 
for March, thanks us for disposing of a bad record in connection 
with the alleged black-headed bunting in Yorkshire. It will 
be remembered that at a meeting of the British Ornithologists’ 
Club, two examples of this continental species were recorded, 
both had been bought from dealers, and both are now in a 
Sussex Museum. We must admit that we quite expected 
Mr. Witherby would delete the Yorkshire specimen from his 
list, but he says nothing about the Sussex specimen, so that 
presumably it stands! He cannot see the force of our con- 
tention, that, having fairly proved that in this instance the 
record was wrong, there is ‘ quite a suspicion, and, in fact, 
more than suspicion, as to the bona fides of other recent 
records of British Birds “seen in the flesh.’’’ At any rate, 
Yorkshire naturalists are glad to be rid of their alleged new 
record, and are quite prepared to leave their friends in Sussex 
to have as many ‘ new records’ as they like. 
THE LATE PROFESSOR JAMES GEIKIE, F.R.S. 
We regret to record the death at Edinburgh, late on March 
ist, of Dr. James Geikie, F.R.S., younger brother of Sir Archi- 
bald Geikie, and, like him, a distinguished geologist. James 
H 
1915 April 1. 
