19 

 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION : 

 VERTEBRATE SECTION. 



Two Meetings of this section were held in the Leeds University 

 on November 18th, 1916, Mr. W. H. Parkin presiding. 



Mr. L. Gaunt reported a 35-pound Badger being killed 

 at Bolton Abbey on the 15th. The result of the official bus- 

 iness of the afternoon is incorporated in the Annual Report 

 of the Union, appearing elsewhere in The Naturalist. 



At the evening meeting, Mr. Greaves gave a paper on 

 ' Some Bird Observations on the Hills of the Upper Calder.' 



The bleak hills of the Lower Pennines are not generally 

 associated with a rich or varied avi-fauna, but the lecturer 

 demonstrated that by systematic and indefatigable watching, 

 many unusual and interesting visitors may be noted, particu- 

 larly during the Spring and Autumn. 



As most of our moors are now used as gathering grounds 

 for an increased supply of water to our towns, their aspect 

 and attraction as resting-places for migrating shore and aquatic 

 birds have undergone a gradual but decided change, so that 

 in addition to the resident Moorland species, there is now a 

 fairly regular succession of immigrants affecting the small 

 stretches of sand and mud flats surrounding the many reser- 

 voirs, the Waders, of course, predominating. 



So far, the result of the survey is the satisfactory list of 

 135 species noted in the Hebden Bridge district, to which, no 

 doubt, additions will be made. Mr. Greaves suggested a 

 thorough exploitation of our inland waters during the mi- 

 gratory periods, as likely to yield good results. 



Mr. T. M. Fowler read a paper on ' Wild Life on the Manx 

 Shearwater and Storm Petrel in the Scillies," (see Wild Life), 

 and with the aid of photographs taken at this stronghold of 

 the two species, described the many strange characteristics 

 affecting their resting habits. 



The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the 

 Lecturers and to Prof. Garstang, and to the Council of the 

 University for their hospitality .—A. Haigh Lumby. 



The Belfast Municipal Museum Publication No. 57, is devoted to 

 ' Human Pests,' the subjects dealt with being the Flea, Bed-Bug, Louse, 

 and Itch-Mite. 



The Annual Report and Balance Sheet of the Huddevsfield Naturalist 

 and Photographic Society (10 pages) shows a slight falling oft" in the mem- 

 bership. This Society is still keeping an interest in its work and has a 

 good balance in hand at the Bank. The reports printed are as follows : — 

 General and Photographic, by E. S. Maples ; Natural History and 

 Entomology, by C. Mosley ; Antiquities, by J. H. Carter ; Library and 

 Ornithology, by E. Fisher ; Botany, by W. E. L. YVattam ; Geology, by 

 Dr. T. W. Woodhead. From the Librarian's report, we notice there 

 are eight Volumes of the Naturalist to dispose of, but that the Society's 

 set of its own reports is incomplete. 



1917 J an. 1. 



