Yorkshire NaUtralists Union : Annual Report, 1911. 19 



Jasper Atkinson, 33 St. Michael's Road, Headingley. 



Prof. Patten, The University, Sheffield. 



Oxley Grabham, M.A., The Museum, York. 



W. Falconer,^ Slaithwaite. 



Prof. Garstang, The University, Leeds. 



R. H. Philip, 447 Beverley Road, Hull. 



Transactions. — The question of the Union's Transactions 

 is where it was last year, excepting that part of the Geological 

 Bibliography appeared in " The Naturalist " for July last. 



SECTIONS AND COMMITTEES. 

 VERTEBRATE SECTION. 



West Riding. — Mr. R. Fortune writes : — Summer migrants 

 generally were later than usual in arriving, some of them, as 

 for instance Swifts and Spotted Flycatchers, especially so. Swifts 

 were almost as late as last year, which was exceptional. Chiff- 

 chaffs and Willow Wrens were much less plentiful than usual, 

 yet Wood Wrens appear to have been in their normal numbers. 

 It looks almost as if some disaster had overtaken the two first- 

 named, which the last, being later in arrival, had escaped 



Land Rails have been more abundant than for many years 

 past, but until there is a radical change in their nesting habits, 

 I am afraid their numbers will not increase to any extent. 



Whinchats and Redstarts continue to decrease in numbers, 

 although Mr. Parkin appears to think that in his district this 

 is not the case with regard to Whinchats. This state of things 

 must be exceptional, as correspondents in various parts of the 

 county are unanimous that there is a very great decrease in the 

 numbers of these birds. 



Despite their late arrival, summer birds departed somewhat 

 earlier. This early departure is often noticeable in exceptionally 

 fine summers, the reason being, no doubt, as Mr. Booth has 

 pointed out, that food being plentiful, birds mature more rapidly, 

 and are consequently ready for their flight southwards somewhat 

 earlier than usual. 



Winter migrants arrived in the West Riding a few days 

 earlier than their average time, Redwings being first noticed on 

 October 8th, and Fieldfares and Hooded Crows on October 14th. 



The fine summer is no doubt responsible for a very good 

 crop of Grouse. They have been very abundant. Pheasants, 

 both wild and hand-reared, have also done exceptionally well, 

 but Partridges have only been an average crop. In some 

 districts they have done very well, and in others very badly. 

 Hungarian Partridges have been imported into the county in 

 large numbers of late years, in order to supplement the rapidly 

 diminishing stock of native birds. 



The more important records during the year were duly 

 notified in " The Naturalist." ' 



1912 Jan. I. 



