YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1 895. 9 



have little or no results to record for the past year. The members 

 have found no opportunity for concerted work, and no record has 

 been published of individual investigation beyond the insertion in 

 the February number of the 'Naturalist' of a provisional list of 

 Diatoms found at Cusworth, near Doncaster. It is hoped that, 

 during the coming year, a little more life may be infused into this 

 Committee. The Hon. .Secretary would welcome any suggestions 

 for the adoption of a systematic method of working. 



The Marine Zoology Committee. — There has been some 

 sign of the existence of this Committee by the holding of a meeting 

 at Filey in September, and it would seem, by the interest aroused on 

 that occasion, that the necessity for taking some active steps was 

 eventually being recognised. There is an immense amd'unt of work 

 to be done, and the difficulties in the way are not to be easily 

 surmounted. The marine biologist cannot choose his own time to 

 conduct his investigations, and must consult almanacks and tide 

 tables, and be largely dependent on the meteorological conditions. 

 Unless, therefore, he lives on the coast, his operations must 

 necessarily be very much curtailed, and only very partial success is 

 likely to reward his efforts. Unfortunately there are but few mem- 

 bers so favourably situated and possessing the necessary inclination, 

 and those who have some ambition in this direction have the 

 misfortune to live at a distance from the coast. Nevertheless, by 

 the meeting at Filey it was conclusively shown that much may be 

 done by ^holding regular excursions at the spring and autumnal 

 Equinoxes, and if these are continued considerable advance must be 

 made in our knowledge of the marine fauna and flora of the coast. 

 Marine Zoology, too, covers such a wide field that of necessity there 

 ought to be special workers to take up exclusively but one class of 

 the invertebrata. The study of some of these animals has been 

 much neglected, and there is consequently great difficulty in 

 obtaining their identification. It may be mentioned on this head 

 that Professor Herdman, F.R.S., has kindly ofiFered to give us all the 

 assistance in his power, and other aid may be expected from the 

 Liverpool Marine Biological Committee. In order that the Botanical 

 Section may not be excluded from the operations of the Committee, 

 it has been suggested that its name should be altered to the Marine 

 Biological Committee. 



The excursion to Flamborough was also, to some extent, arranged 

 for the benefit of this Committee, but the fixture of the date was not 

 a fortunate one, as the tide was not by any means low enough to 

 enable the members present on this occasion to reach the productive 

 parts of the shore. 



