Northern News. 2IIr 
species as frequenting Hebden Bridge in his 1844 list of York- 
shire birds, but I have never been able to trace a positive 
occurrence prior to the present. The attention of persons not 
interested in birds was arrested by the song, and there were 
frequently little groups of listeners gathered in the main road. 
The bird was still singing in the same place on May roth. On 
the preceding Sunday Mr. Dugdale says it sang all day, prac- 
tically continuously.—WALTER GREAVES. 
Early Arrival of Swifts.—For the second year in success- 
ion Swifts have arrived in Harrogate abnormally early. This 
year, on the 30th April a considerable number arrived, and 
on the rst of May we appeared to have our full numbers, 
and they were chasing each other round in small flocks, 
screaming in their characteristic manner, as if they had been 
with us for a month or more. This is only the second time 
that I have known them arrive in April, May 6th being their 
usual date.—R. FORTUNE. 
, OS 
We notice The Yorkshive Observer has re-commenced the ‘ Out of 
Doors’ column, which appears on Friday mornings. Several Yorkshire 
naturalists contribute. 
We see from the Yorkshive Observer that at the Yorkshire Assizes 
at Leeds, on May 5th, an action for damages for libel was brought by 
Lionel Walmsley against Mr. T. Sheppard, curator of the Hull Museums 
and joint editor of The Naturalist, and others. Mr. Cuthbertson was 
for the plaintiff and Mr. R. A. Shepherd for the defendants. Mr. Cuth- 
bertson said that the plaintiff, who was about 22 years of age, wrote two 
articles, which were revised and reprinted in book form in March, 1gr4. 
Various copies of this book, which was called ‘A Guide to the Geology 
of the Whitby District,’ were sent out for review, including one to The 
Naturalist, where it was reviewed in May, 1914, and it was there stated 
‘ During the past six years, at any rate, the author seems to have become 
fairly familiar with the principal memoirs dealing with the district, and 
in these he has deeply delved, and made tracings of the plans, sections, 
and fossils, etc.’ This was the part of the libel which he regarded as 
serious. Before evidence was called the Judge suggested that this was 
a case in which some effort might be made to reach a settlement, and after 
a consultation between the parties it was agreed that the records should 
be withdrawn. Mr. Shepherd said that his clients had no desire at any 
time to harm the career of the plaintiff, and had no knowledge that the 
words used could do so. His clients had no intention of saying that the 
book was not to a very large extent original work. Of course, the plaintiff 
had studied the works of the people who had spent years in investigating 
the geology of the district, but his clients were quite prepared to say that 
the plaintiff's work was of good, substantial merit. Mr. Cuthbertson said 
his client had not brought the action to put money into his pocket, but 
because he thought his reputation had been attacked. Once it had been 
established by what Mr. Shepherd had properly said on behalf of the 
defendants there was no more to be said, and he was willing that the 
records should be withdrawn. The Judge said he was very glad that 
course had been taken. He was convinced of two things—that the book 
was of undoubted merit and contained original and useful work; and 
that the defendants never had any real intention or saying anything 
spiteful of injurious to the plaintiff. 
1915 June 1. 
