282 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS IN UPPER TEESDALE. 



of the meeting for his conduct in the chair.' Brief sectional reports 

 were then called for, and given by Mr. James Backhouse, jun., 

 F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., for the Vertebrate Section, by Mr. W. Denison 

 Roebuck, F.L.S., for the Conchological, by Mr. J. H. Rowntree, of 

 Scarborough, for the Entomological, by Messrs. T. W. Woodhead, of 

 Huddersfield, and M. B. Slater, F.L.S., of Malton, for the Botanical, 

 and by Mr. S. A. Adamson, F.G.S., of Leeds, for the Geological 

 Section. Detailed reports were subsequently supplied by these 

 gentlemen to the Secretaries of the Union as follows : — 



For the Vertebrate Section its senior Secretary, Mr. James 

 Backhouse, jun., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., reported as follows: — It might 

 be supposed that in three days a large number of vertebrates would 

 have been noted on such exceptionally rich ground as Upper 

 Teesdale presents, but owing partly perhaps to the time of year and 

 partly to the inclemency of the weather, only 38 species of birds 

 were seen (25 residents and 13 migrants) and 2 mammals. 



There was a marked absence of the birds of prey, not one being 

 seen, in what was once probably as favourite a haunt for the accipitres 

 as any in Yorkshire. One Raven was sighted, and this species is 

 reported by Major Bainbridge to breed still below Middleton-in- 

 Teesdale. Black Grouse, a small flock of Dunlin, Heron, and 

 Twite were among the scarcest birds met with, and of the latter, 

 young in first plumage were seen on the Durham side of the Tees. 



Mr. Raine, of Howgill, reported that two pairs of the Teal have 

 nested on the Yorkshire side this season ; one was observed during 

 the excursion. The Grey Wagtail, of which examples were met with, 

 is reported by Mr. J. Wearmouth to be a summer visitant only to 

 Upper Teesdale, arriving in March. 



A number of frogs were seen and their great variety of colouring 

 carefully noted by Rev. E. P. Knubley, who reports that some, 

 particularly those on the higher ground near to Cauldron Snout, 

 were very light-coloured, with orange blotches on the under side of 

 the breast and thighs, whilst others showed every variety of black 

 marking upon their backs, from two or three small spots, irregularly 

 dispersed over a light yellow surface, to large patches which covered 

 the greater part of the exposed portion of the body. 



For the Conchological Section, none of whose officers were able 

 to be present, Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, F.L.S., stated that although 

 very few species had been observed actually upon the Yorkshire side 

 of the Tees, yet one was of especial interest, Helix fusca, of which 

 Mr. J. E. Mason had found a few in a hazel copse under Holwick 

 Scars. It had been previously found — years ago — on the Durham 

 side, near High Force, by Mr. James Backhouse. Limncza peregrct 



Naturalist, 



