CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. 425 



interest, and the protection of natural features, as well as ancient buildings 

 under an amended ' Ancient Monuments Act.' It was explained that 

 the Council of the Association already had this matter under consideration. 

 At the adjourned meeting on Tuesday, September 6, Mr. T. Sheppard, 

 in the Chair, a letter from the Director of the International Institute of 

 Intellectual Co-operation was read, calling attention to the drawbacks 

 of * mixed ' scientific publications by societies, etc. This letter, which 

 had been referred to the Conference by the Council of the Association, 

 was received without comment. Its discussion led to reference by Sir 

 George Fordham and Dr. C. Tierney to the question of the size of scientific 

 societies' publications, but it was decided that no further action should 

 at present be taken on this matter. 



Mr. T. Sheppard, Vice-Chairman of the Corresponding Societies Com- 

 mittee, opened a discussion on Natural Reserves with the following 

 communication : — 



Nature Reserves in Yorkshire. 



Certainly no county in the British Isles has such an extraordinary variety of 

 scenery and conditions for the preservation of animal and plant life as has the Broad- 

 acred Shire. On the east is the sea coast, with its wealth of cliffs, bays and pro- 

 montories ; immediately to the west are the Cleveland Hills and the Yorkshire 

 Wolds : then the great Central Valley of York, and beyond that the Pennine Chain, 

 with its variety of mountain, mere and marsh. Each of these areas is suitable for 

 bird life in one form or another, and fortunately Yorkshire still possesses broad-minded 

 landowners who are interested in the preservation of our fauna and flora. 



In some parts of England we hear much of the fact that certain districts have 

 been set apart as sanctuaries, but in Yorkshire for generations different landowners 

 have given strict instructions that the animals and plants on their properties shall 

 be preserved. Even quite close to Leeds and the centre of the county, where 

 apparently collieries and factories are contaminating the atmosphere, quite a large 

 number of well-wooded districts exist in which the birds, mammals and the wild 

 flowers receive shelter and freedom. While these areas may be looked upon as 

 sanctuaries, they are to a certain extent unofficial, but fortunately Yorkshire pos- 

 sesses on its eastern side three distinct sanctuaries in which the fauna and flora are 

 well represented and at present well preserved. These are Spurn Point, Hornsea 

 Mere, and Flamborough Headland. 



The well-known precipitous cliffs of Bempton and Flamborough harbour 

 Guillemots, Razorbills, Puffins, and birds which usually lay one egg on a ledge and 

 hatch the young one therefrom. In the south-east corner of the county is the 

 magnificent sand tract of Spurn Point, where a totally different aspect ot sea-bird 

 life, which bring its young up in nests made in holes in the sand, thrives. 



Between the two is Hornsea Mere, where the secluded woods and the protection 

 afforded by the landowner entice certain Grebes and other interesting species to 

 breed. 



Thus, in the three sanctuaries, quite a large proportion of the important birds of 

 the British Isles may be seen at one time or another. 



The Yorkshire Wild Birds and Eggs Protection Committee contributes funds for 

 the payment in each of these areas of watchers who. during the breeding season, do 

 their best to prevent wanton destruction among the birds and their eggs. 



Unfortunately, we cannot claim absolute sanctuary for the birds in either of these 

 areas, each of them is visited by trippers and others, who do harm more by thoughtless- 

 ness than by mischief ; but by the aid of our watchers the damage is considerably 

 lessened. 



Sjmrn Point. 



Perhaps the most interesting of the areas is Spurn Point, which has been a bird 

 paradise for a considerable time, possibly aided by the powerful lighthouse, the beams 

 from which attract great quantities of migrating species. The isolated sandbank at 



