ANNUAL REPORT FOR I9OO. 87 



Conchological Section. — Mr. J. E. Crowther, the presi- 

 dent, reports that as there is not much hope of adding" any new 

 species of land and fresh-water mollusca to the British Hst, the 

 work of this section is mainly confined to investigating the 

 distribution of the various species. With this object in view, 

 members of the section have attended the excursions of the 

 Union, and their efforts have been attended with more or less 

 success. Perhaps one of the most interesting records is Limax 

 arhoriim at Marsden. This species was fairly plentiful at 

 Grassington, as was also Arion minimus. Several other species 

 not previously recorded for Grassington were also met with. It 

 has been suggested that this section should be formed into a 

 Committee of Research. If that were done, perhaps more and 

 better work would be accomplished, as it would be a means of 

 drawing" the members more closely together, both at the excur- 

 sions and at other times. 



Entomological Section. — Mr. William Hewett and Mr. 

 John Waddington, the secretaries, report that there is not much 

 of special interest to record for this section's work during the 

 year. A brief summary of the more interesting species taken by 

 Yorkshire collectors this season will appear later in the pages of 

 the 'Naturalist.' The following usually uncommon species in 

 Yorkshire have been fairly common — viz., the Clouded Yellow 

 Butterfly [Colias edusci), larvae of the Death's Head Hawk 

 Moth [Acheroniia atropos), and imag"ines of the Humming Bird 

 Hawk Moth {Afacroglossa siellaiarum), which, whilst not so 

 common as last year, has yet been widely distributed. It is 

 recommended that the section be formed into a committee of 

 research, and that at least two meetings be held during igoi. 

 The Committee to be elected at the annual meeting at 

 Middlesbrough. 



Botanical Section (Phanerogamic). — Mr. John Farrah, 

 F.L.S., the secretary, reports that but little has been reported 

 during the year, a sad and deplorable statement to make 

 (especially in connection with our county), and should stimulate 

 all botanists to more strenuous efforts. There is but little 

 chance of making- any startling discoveries, as the keen eyes of 

 our older botanists have spied out all the rarities and left but 

 little for the plant lover to do beyond reverently and devo'atly 

 paying his annual pilg-rimages to the shrines where flora still 

 g"uards for his own special delight some of her rarest gems. 

 But woe be to him if in a weak moment he betrays the hiding" 

 place to a mere plant collector, lest in future he should seek for the 

 habitats of his loved ones in vain. It may be sugg"ested that all 

 botanists should give their attention to the flora of their own 

 district, noting and naming the plants most carefully, tabulating 

 with the utmost care every home, and all its surroundings. 

 There are other and innumerable paths into which the phanero- 

 gamic botanist may turn his steps with the greatest profit and 



