283 
YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT ASKERN. 
A DEPARTURE was made from the usual custom whereby the 
Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union makes it a rule not to visit the same 
locality twice for an excursion, when Askern was selected for the 
to3rd of the series, on Thursday, the 15th of June. There was, 
however, a sufficient reason in the fact that in 1886 all the low-lying 
country about Askern was flooded for many miles to such an extent 
as to entirely prevent the work in micro-zoology and micro-botany 
which it had been confidently expected to be done. In this respect 
there could not have been a more complete contrast, for on the 
15th of June this year the country had suffered so long from 
drought that many ponds and water-courses were dried up, so that 
while on the former occasion access could not be had to them by 
reason of the super-abundance of water, on this access was difficult 
by reason of the stretches of soft mud which surrounded the ponds. 
The arrangements for investigating the district included three 
main lines of route, and in making them the Secretaries had been 
heartily supported by the members of the neighbouring societies of 
Doncaster, Barnsley, and Ackworth School. The Doncaster members 
were well to the front in providing leaders for the parties, while the 
Barnsley Society made special driving arrangements for joining in 
the day’s work, It was, moreover, particularly gratifying to have so 
strong a muster of the juvenile naturalists of Ackworth Friends’ 
School as made their appearance in charge of two of their masters, 
Mr. Neale and Mr. C. J. Evans. Permission had been granted for 
their estates to be visited by Messrs. F. Bacon Frank, of Campsall ; 
G. B. C. Yarborough, of Camps Mount ; Percy S. Neville, of Shel- 
brook Park; and G. Charlesworth, of Skellow Grange ; Mr. Frank © 
showing further interest by meeting the party which visited peal, 
and facilitating their researches in every possible way. oe 
Il pa urted from Askern Station at 10.30 a.m. A strong — 
contingent, led by. the Rey. F. H.: Allen, Vicar of the neighbouring 
_ parish of Moss, and afterwards joined by Mr. M. H. Stiles, of 
Doncaster, proceeded direct to the prolific. brick-pond at Thorpe, ee 
from which they returned by way of the Shirley pool and jungle, — 
the Haywood and Wrang Car drains, and Askern Pool, collecting 
as they returned. The second party was to have been under the 
guidance of ‘Messrs. Jj. M. Kirk and George Winter, both of . 
a Doncaster, but these gentlemen having been detained, the party 
moved off in charge of Mr. Claude Leatham, Mr. Kirk catching ee 
a =: with it Tater. on. Its. os) were e directed. to ihe, trip ae ef 
