YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS UNION AT DEWSBURY. 1 45 



not only of the flowering plants, but of all the cryptogams, and chapters on 

 lithology and climatology, with a map, will be pulilished during the course of the 

 spring or early summer. 



Sections. — The work of the various sections has been carried on during the 

 year with the same amount of energy and success as heretofore, and the Union is 

 indebted to its sectional officers for much of the success of the various meetings. 



A new section has been added to the list, for the investigation of forms of life, 

 both animal and vegetable, which need the use of the microscope as an adjunct to 

 their study. Relief will thus be afforded to the Botanical section (by whom much 

 good work has always been done in this direction) and to the various zoological 

 sections under whose cognizance these lower forms formerly came. 



Committees of Research. — During the past few months steps have been 

 taken for stimulating systematic research into specific subjects, with the result that 

 proposals will be brought before the General Committee this day for the appoint- 

 ment of a Yorkshire Boulder Committee and a Yorkshire Marine Zoology Com- 

 mittee. The former is intended to co-operate with and assist the committee 

 appointed by the British Association for the purpose of recording the distribution 

 and occurrence of boulders and erratic blocks ; while the latter will have for its 

 object the organisation of means for ascertaining the forms of animal life which 

 inhabit the Yorkshire coast and neighbouring seas, a vast field of inquiry in which 

 so far there is but little on record. Both subjects are such as cannot be dealt with 

 at the excursions, and which need special attention. 



British Association. — At the meeting of the British Association the Union was 

 officially represented, the delegate being this year the Rev. E. Ponsonby Knubley. 



The Library of the Union has been very largely increased by donations, some 

 of them of very considerable importance. Particular mention should be made of 

 a valuable donation from Mr. Basil T. Woodd, of Conyngham Hall near Knares- 

 borough, of a set of 27 volumes of the ' Zoologist,' and to him the thanks of the 

 Union have been presented. 



The growing extent of the Union's Library has engaged the attention of your 

 Executive, who have had pleasure in appointing Mr. Charles Brownridge to act 

 as Librarian, and it will be proposed that the General Committee henceforth add 

 to the list of general officers an honorary librarian, with a seat on the executive. 



The books and other property of the Union are deposited in a room at the 

 Leeds Mechanics' Institute, by the kindness of the Committee of the Institute, to 

 whom the Union are also under great obligation for allowing Executive meetings 

 to be held in their Board-room free of charge. 



The Executive will be pleased to receive donations of suitable books, especially 

 such as bear upon the objects and investigations which the Union exists to 

 facilitate ; and particularly of copies of works and papers published or written by 

 its members. 



The Secretariate. — Your Executive have had under consideration the 

 considerable amount of labour which has of late fallen upon your Honorary 

 Secretaries in respect of the management of the Union's business and the editorial 

 supervision of its publications, and have decided to recommend to the General 

 Committee the appointment of two Assistant Secretaries, for which posts two 

 occupants have been found in the persons of Messrs. Percy H. Grimshaw and 

 W. Cecil Scott, both of Leeds. 



The Presidency. — ^Your Executive have offered the Presidency for the 

 coming year to Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, Bart., of Thirkleby Park, near Thirsk, 

 a resident in the county and well known through his publications as a keen and 

 highly-accomplished field-naturalist. The post has been accepted by him, and the 

 Union is thus again fortunate in securing for its President a gentleman in whose 

 hands the dignity of the office will be as worthily maintained as it has been by his 

 distinguished predecessors. 



The audited Balance Sheet was then presented, and showed the 



Union to be in a very satisfactory condition. After discussion the 



report and balance sheet were adopted, on the motion of Dr. H. C. 



Sorby, F.R.S., seconded by Mr. John Emmet, F.L.S. 



May 1887, 



