PROCRKOINGS : RKPORT OF LEEOS BRAKTH. 29 



and J. C. Melvill, Lieul-Col. II. H. Godwin-Austen, Messrs. C. M. Steenberg, 

 A. W. Stelfox, C. Hedley, A. S. Kennard, B. B. Woodward, and the Marchese 

 di Monterosato. 



Tlie Council again sends its most appreciative greetings and good wishes to those 

 members wlio are on active naval or military service. 



RECORDER'S REPORT. 



The Hon. Recorder has to report that steady progress has been made during the 

 year with the filling-up of blanks in the Census as far as the circumstances of the 

 present time render this possible. Not a few have been filled up, and in two cases 

 the slug fauna has been completed, thanks to Mr. G. B. C. Leman in .Shropshire, 

 and Mr. Charles Oldham in Huntingdonshire, who have paid special attention to 

 ihem this year. 



REPORT OF THE LEEDS BRANCH 



For the Twelve Months ended 30TH Sei'tember, 1918. 



Twelve meetings have been held during this period, six in the field and six in- 

 doors. The field meetings have been thinly attended owing to the lack of railway 

 facilities. The field work has been mostly of an oecological character, chiefly insti- 

 gated by the discussion of Capt. A. E. Boycott's presidential address. Three 

 papers have been given. In October last at Leeds Mr. W. H. Hutton gave an 

 interesting paper on " Pearl and Pearl- Bearing Mussels." He traced out their 

 early historical records, and concluded with notes on their economic and monetary 

 value. The November meeting was responsible for a general display of mollusca. 

 The December meeting was the Branch's annual one for election of officers, etc. 

 The January meeting of this year was devoted to a discussion of Capt. A. E. Boy- 

 cott's presidential address at the annual meeting of the Conchological .Society in 

 Manchester, "On the Habits of Freshwater Mollusca." Mr. W. Denison Roebuck 

 introduced the paper, and during the discussion numerous instances were brought 

 forward of certain species occupying habitats quite in opposition to the experiences 

 of Capt. Boycott. It was decided that in future full data on the lines suggested and 

 worked out by Capt. Boycott should be compiled in connection with some of our 

 local habitats. At the February meeting Mr. Roebuck gave an interesting address 

 on the British Slugs. The species were dealt with in the order in which they 

 became members of the British fauna, beginning with Limax maxiiiius zxid ending 

 with Aiion mininnis. He also expounded the characters by which they are dis- 

 tinguished, and their geographical distribution. In March, Mr. J. E. Crowther 

 gave "Notes and Observations on Limmca siagnalis." His observations had 

 extended over many years, and covered all stages of growth, from the egg to 

 the adult shell, the effect on growth and numerical occurrence of change of 

 environment, their dominancy over other species, etc. The paper was a most 

 instructive series of careful oecological observations. Members can be congratulated 

 on the enthusiasm they display in keeping up the interest of the Branch under the 

 many difficulties of the past year. Our membership at the present time is 28, 

 with two corresponding members. Mr. J. Digby Firth, F. L.S., F. E.S., is our 

 President. F. Booth, Hon. Sec, 



