CiRC 154. 



VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY.— 



Mammalia. — Numerous species have already been recorded ; the Squirrel is 

 common in Grass Wood, and it would be interesting to ascertain if the Dormouse 

 occurs. Otters are not uncommon in the Wharfe ; the Badger has been taken so 

 near as Simon Seat, and the Pine Marten at Buckden so recently as 1880. 

 Observations on the smaller and the more critical species such as Mice, Voles, Bats, 

 etc. , are a desideratum. 



Birds. — In ornithology the subalpine character of the district is indicated by the 

 presence of such species as the Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Curlew, Stonechat, Dotterel, 

 Common Sandpiper, Ring Ouzel and Red Grouse, and woodland species are 

 common, including Barn, Tawny, and Short-eared Owls, Snow Bunting, etc., while 

 the Raven and Peregrine nested in Upper Wharfedale to within comparatively 

 recent times, and in 1876 a Bitttrn was shot near Grass Wood. Kilnsey Scar is 

 interesting as one of the very few natural habitats in which the House Martin nests. 

 Mr. G. T. Porritt, F'.L.S., writes that he saw the Kingfisher on the river near the 

 Grass Wood in June last. 



Reptiles, Amphibians and Fishes. — The Common Lizard, Frog, Toad, 

 Trout, are all the species at present on record. It is stated that Vipers are not 

 found in Grass Wood. 



CONCHOLOGY.— Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, F.L.S., writes that the mol- 

 luscan fauna of the neighbourhood of Grassington, Thorpe and Cracoe is very rich 

 in terrestrial mollusca, being well-wooded and predominantly calcareous in character, 

 the abundance of such species as Liinax aiboj-imi, Htlix rupesttis, Bnlen, Claiisilia 

 ditbta, CI. lanihiata, Helix arbiistortnn, H. ericetor!i?n, BuHmns obscuriis, Azeca, 

 etc., being ample evidence. Of other species, Cyclosioma occurs on a bank between 

 Giassington and Burnsall, a few yards from the river. Pupa seca/e at Kettlewell, and 

 Helix lapiada at Starbotton, Kilnsey, and Troller's Gill, and these should all be 

 looked for in the more immediate neighbourhood of Grassington and Grass Woods. 

 Ancylus flztviatilis, Planorbis spiroibis, Livinaa fcregra. L. palnstris, L. trji7icatula, 

 and Fisidiiiiii fontinale, are the only water shells that have been recorded for Upper 

 Wharfedale, but mostly higher up than Grassington. Altogether about 43 species are 

 on record for the district, a rich fauna for so elevated an area. The chief attention 

 of the conchologist should now be diiected to a careful search of Grass Woods and 

 other likely stations in the hope of finding such species as Helix laDiellata, H. 

 aculeaia, H. fnlchella, Zonites ptiriis, Z. nilidiis, H. sericea, H.caperala, H. pygmcea. 

 Pupa ringcns, P. ma-'ginata, or any species of Vertigo, Achatina, and Acme, none 

 of which have been as yet reported, but all are within the bounds of possibility as 

 likely to occur. Attention should also be given to increasing the list of slugs and 

 freshwater forms. 



ENTOMOLOGY.— Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., writes that practically nothing 

 is known of the autumn entomology of the district, but froni what is known of the 

 species occurring there earlier in the season, careful search would certainly produce 

 good results. Lepidopterists are recommended to work the Grass Wood by beat- 

 ing for larvK in the daytime, and sugaring for autumn imagines at night. 

 Neuropterists and trichoplerists are pretty sure to find Halesiis aiiricollis in plenty 

 on the river side, and a sharp look out should be kept for the rare Stenophylax 

 roiundifetinis and Drepanopteiyx phaUenoides, both of which may reasonably be 

 e.xpected to occur. 



MICRO-ZOOLOGY AND MICRO-BOTANY.— No attention what- 

 ever seems to have been given to these subjects. 



PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS, Sec- 

 Saturday, September 8th. — Dinner at 6 p.m. 



7-30 p.m. — The members will meet at the Foresters' Arms Hotel, for reports, 

 discussions, arrangement of routes and work, etc. 

 Sunday. — A conveyance leaves Grassington for Skipton at 6 p.m. in connection 



with trains to Leeds and Bradford. 

 Monday, September loth. — 



7-0 a.m., 8-45 a.m. — Conveyances leave Grassington for Skipton. 



8-48 a.m., 10-55 ^-ni- — Trains leave Skipton for Bradford and Leeds. 



If a sufficient number require it, a special conveyance might be arranged for, 

 to arrive in Skipton in time for the 9-57 express to Bradford and Leeds. 



