20 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION — ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1 896. 



M.R.C.S. The remarks made at the conference by Mr. Knubley 

 upon the organisation, the work, and the Hterature of the Union 

 made a very favourable impression on the conference. The con- 

 ference also discussed suggestions introduced by Professor W. M. 

 Flinders Petrie on the formation of a Federal Staff for Local 

 Museums. A fuller report will appear in ' The Naturalist.' 



The Secretariate. — Another year has added to the debt of 

 gratitude which the Union owes to its indefatigable Hon. Secretary, 

 Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, upon whose capable shoulders the whole 

 of the Secretarial and Editorial responsibility has again fallen, except 

 that for the excursions his labours were to a considerable extent 

 lightened by the valued assistance which he received from Mr. B. M. 

 Smith, Mr. E. A. Peake, M.A., Rev. C D. Ash, B.A., Mr. H. Moore, 

 Mr. John Hovvitt, Mr. W. Norwood Cheesman, and the Rev. John 

 Hawell, M.A., to whom the best thanks of the Union are due. 

 Your Executive once more reiterate the hope that Mr. Roebuck 

 may soon have a capable colleague to share his labours. 



The Presidency for 1897 has been offered to, and accepted 

 by, Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, M.A., F.R.S., whose classic works on 

 Cave Hunting and Cave Remains and his special work in connection 

 with the investigation of the Settle Cave many years ago, are so well 

 known. 



In bidding farewell to the retiring President, the Executive gladly 

 seize this opportunity of tendering him grateful thanks, not merely 

 for the valuable services that he has rendered to the Union during his 

 term of ofBce, but much more for the years that he has ungrudgingly 

 devoted to the spread of the knowledge of ornithology, both in this 

 county and in the kingdom. 



