149 
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY IN YORKSHIRE. 
A. HAIGH-LUMBY. 
Tue Zoological Section of the Yorkshire Naturalist’s Union 
held two meetings on Saturday the 15th February, at the 
Leeds Institute, at 3.15 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. The President, 
Mr. H. B. Booth, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U:, was in the chair, and, in 
referring to the work of the section, expressed the hope that 
members would attend the excursions of the Union during 
the coming summer in greater numbers, and so assist in the 
investigation of various parts of the county. Mr. Riley 
Fortune detailed the arrangements made by the Wild Birds’ 
Protection Committee for watchers during I913. 
Mr. A. Whitaker announced that the Mammals, Amphi- 
bians, Reptiles and Fishes Committee had elected referees 
for the different orders under investigation, to whom all 
enquiries, information, specimens, etc., relative to that par- 
ticular order, should be sent. 
Mr. W. H. Parkin reported having seen in July, Ig12, a 
Great Black-backed Gull near Harewood Bank, which re- 
peatedly plunged almost completely under water, evidently to 
secure food. 
Mr. G. H. Parkin exhibited preserved specimens of the 
Little Gull in the first year’s plumage, taken in Lincolnshire ; 
a beautiful and most unusual variety of the Common Bunting 
with plumage almost like that of a Yorkshire Canary, and a 
fawn coloured specimen of the Chaffinch, both the latter being 
taken in Yorkshire. 
Mr. H. B. Booth exhibited two skins of male Song Thrushes, 
shewing the marked variation in the local race, and what may 
be the Continental form; and gave Hartert’s descriptions 
along with the new specific names. 
A general feeling of dissent against the introduction and use 
of these new designations was expressed, and a resolution to 
this effect was passed. 
In the unavoidable absence of the author, Mr. G. Wad- 
dington’s paper on ‘ The Fishes of the Lower Wharfe Basin,’ 
was read by the Secretary. The descriptions and character- 
istics of the 17 species therein referred to, were of particular 
interest to the angling fraternity present, but its value as a 
concise history of the fishes of a defined area of our county 
will be better appreciated when it is published. 
Owing to a severe illness, Dr. E. S. Steward was unable to 
give his promised paper, ‘ Further Notes from Spain,’ but 
Mr. J. Wilkinson, who recently made an ornithological trip 
to Iceland, was present with a series of photographs which he 
had taken on that occasion, and he kindly complied with the 
1913 Mar. I. 
