86 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION. 



recogfnised medium for the publication of natural history 

 observations for the whole of the North of Eng-land. 



Your Executive and the Editor would again take this 

 opportunity of reminding- members that the journal has always 

 been sufficiently catholic in its scope to welcome articles dealing 

 with the life history of animals and plants as observed in the 

 northern counties, as well as with any biological and general 

 considerations that the local observations give rise to. 



The Library continues to increase in bulk. The lending 

 out of books has been stopped for some time, owing to the 

 Committee of the Leeds Institute, where the books are housed, 

 having given the Hon. Librarian notice to move the books to 

 another room. This has now been done. It is hoped shortly to 

 have them arranged, when the many who make use of the library 

 will be able to have their requirements. The removal has caused 

 an increased expenditure. Two new bookcases have already 

 been bought, and if some kindly-disposed members would 

 present others, the gifts would be fully appreciated. 



Flora of West Yorkshire. — Your Executive has 

 resolved to offer the remaining' stock of this work, at 7/6 (post 

 free for 8/-), in order to gain space in the Library, and it is 

 trusted that a speedy clearance may be made of the copies 

 remaining. 



The Sections of the Union have more or less steadily 

 carried on their work during the year, and as the success of the 

 field excursions entirely depends upon the presence of the 

 Union's best workers in every department, it is to be hoped 

 that members will endeavour to support the arrangements made 

 by the general and sectional officers by their presence at as 

 many excursions as possible. 



Vertebrate Section. — Mr. Kenneth MacLean, the secre- 

 tary, and Mr. Riley Fortune, F.Z.S., president, report that 

 there is little of special interest to record. The spring was very 

 late, cold and wet weather prevailing throughout April and well 

 into May, consequently the winter visitors stayed longer than 

 usual, and the majority of the summer visitors were exception- 

 ally late in making their appearance. The excursions in con- 

 nection with the Y. N.U. have been as interesting and popular as 

 in pievious years, the one to Hornsea being without doubt the 

 most interesting one of late years. Several species of rare birds 

 were noted, and in most cases were found nesting. Reports of 

 animals and birds seen have been given in the 'Naturalist' from 

 time to time. One of the most interesting ornithological events 

 of the year is the occurrence of the Levantine Shearwater 

 [Ptcffinus yelkouanus), a specimen of which, shot at Scarborough 

 on September 13th, has come into the possession of Mr. Riley 

 Fortune. 



