THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ UNION 
AT AYSGARTH. 
Tue first meeting of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union for the 
present year took place on Whit-Monday, May 22nd. The day 
was gloriously fine, and the rains of the previous week had but 
added to the beauty of the scenery, and caused an exhilarating 
feeling of freshness to pervade everything. 
The district planned for investigation comprised the neighbour- 
hood of the villages of Aysgarth and Carperby, the lower slopes of 
ager and the picturesque dales of Bishopdale and Waldendale. 
content with a single day, many members passed the week- 
end in i thie district, and certainly a ‘better spot for spending a few days 
could hardly be desired, and these had been able to obtain a fair 
quantity of specimens before the rest of the members arrived on the 
Monday. 
Permission had been kindly given by Lord Bolton, of Bolton 
Hall, and Mr. Thomas Bradley, of Bear Park, for the investigation 
of their estates, but as it was the nesting season the members 
abstained, at Lord Bolton’s request, from visiting the moorlands. 
The river banks in the immediate neighbourhood of Aysgarth 
were well investigated, and though not a few of the naturalists 
preferred to take independent routes, many took the route which 
followed the river banks from Yore Mills to the stepping-stones, 
as far as the stagnant pools in the Strand pasture, then leaving the 
river bank and working back by way of Carperby. The Freeholders’ 
Wood at Carperby was found very productive by a party of botanists 
under the leadership of Miss pees of Sampethy, an accomplished 
botanist ; whilst the tel most valuable guide - 
in Mr. Edward Chapman, the veteran naturalist of the same — — 
who possesses a most extensive knowledge of the birds and 
of the district, and whose list of Wensleydale birds, published in ‘de ss 
‘Naturalist’ a few years ago, was the standard of reference. The 
geologists were fortunate enough to secure the services of Mr. J- Je 
Goodchild, F.G.S., of the Geological Survey of England and Wales, 
by whom much of the work of surveying this district for the _ : 
Geological Map had been done. By five o’clock the majority of the 
members had found their way to the Palmer Flatt Hotel, wont 
a substantial meat tea had been provided. 
After tea, the evening being fine, the general meeting was held : 4 
- out on the lawn, Mr. John Gerrard, M.B.O.U., occupying the chair. 
bea! Ns, in his Csi temarks, bron forward } in a — ee 
