230 THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS UNION AT SEDBERGH. 
of the Bird Cherry, the Hawthorn, and the Crab. Many bushes and 
trees of each species were so laden that they had the appearance of 
being one gigantic nosegay, scarcely a leaf being visible amongst the 
lavish profusion of flowers. 
Mr. John Braim reported/for the Vertebrate Section as follows:— 
The varied features of the district. gave promise of a rare treat to 
the zoologist, nor did the observations made in the short time at our 
command falsify the promise. The birds, as being more in evidence, 
were particularly interesting. The Swallow family appear to have 
made their headquarters here; on the highest fells the Swift and 
Martin were quite at home; and joining their congeners, the 
Swallow and Sand Martin, in their insect hunting over the river, 
their numbers were countless. The Common Sandpiper, with its 
cheery cry, greets you at every turn of the stream—it is common and no 
mistake. The Dipper may be engaged in attending to its young in some 
quiet locality, as it was not so much at home as it ought to have been to 
give the finishing touch to such lovely surroundings. The neigh- 
bourhood is a veritable bird paradise, torrents of song and call and 
cry are heard from morn till night ; but to the observant ornithologist 
there is a tone of sadness running through the prevailing joyousness. 
Why are so many of our beautiful friends missing from the verna 
feast? The Jay and Magpie, and the lesser Hawks and the Owls, 
what has become of them? And why after walking twelve miles to 
hear the croak of a Raven, should we be disappointed? Oh for the 
sight of the ‘Twenty thousand Corn’ naturalists determined to 
know the reason why. The foolish persecution and slaughter wants 
putting a stop to, and the {silly people protecting against their own 
ignorance. The rats and mice of Scotland and North Yorkshire 
and Lincolnshire, and the caterpillars and aphides of the South of 
England are poor exchange every way for the loss of the birds; 
besides our country walks would be vastly more interesting if the 
landscape was enlivened by the presence of these old inhabitants. 
e€ were amused at some instances of what we supposed were 
efforts of evolution. Has the Long-tailed Tit taken a fancy to the 
domed nest of the dumpy, squat Wren? It certainly looks awkward 
with its tail sticking out of the doorway ; either the tail or the dome 
must disappear. Also the Heron building its nest on the tops of 
the highest larches, soaring over its nest with the grace of a Kestrel 
and alighting on the smallest branch with the airiness of a Tree 
Pipit, quite at its ease without any effort to balance itself. In this 
case it is difficult to guess what it is going to do with its long claws and 
beak, and neck and legs—as now fitted up the adaptation is rather — 
far-fetched. The list as follows includes the species met with :— 
: Nature 
icadertets 
