38 



The Naturalist. 



The common is not quite 25 feet above the mean tide level. It is 

 included in the parishes of Kiccall and Skipwith, and is one of the 

 largest unreclaimed pieces of land in England that are capable of 

 improvement. The Enclosure Commissioners have now their eye 

 upon this land with a view to its reclamation for agricultural purposes, 

 and in a year or two it is not improbable that, like Troy, its place 

 will be occupied by fields of waving corn. 



The district to which so much interest, historical and arch^ological, 

 attaches, is no less interesting in a natural history point of view ; 

 and on the last Bank holiday was appointed as the rendezvous of a 

 large party of naturalists from Leeds, Goole, Snaith, Howden, Hull, 

 Withernsea, and Beverley, representing three societies — the Leeds 

 Naturalists' Field Club and Scientific Association, the Goole Scientific 

 Society, and the Hull Scientific Association and Naturalists' Field 

 Club. 



Amongst the vegetation in the Selby Cut, Messrs. William Nelson 

 and John W. Taylor, conchologists, obtained specimens of Bythinia 

 tentaculata, Valvata ^iscinalis^ a single dead shell of V. cristata, and 

 numerous species of the genus Flanorhis ; while on the mud where 

 the vegetation was absent numerous fine examples of Paludina vivipara 

 occurred. In the canal was also to be found the fresh water sponge 

 and numerous aquatic insects. A ditch that ran parallel with the 

 canal proved to be quite choked with aquatic plants, and swarming 

 with animal life, such as Sphcernm corneum^ Fhysa fontimlis, and 

 numerous others. Specimens were collected at intervals along the 

 river banks, including microscopic fungi, plants, such as Allium 

 Scorodoprasum, and various shells, including Helix arhuBtomm in 

 abundance, and in a ditch Ancylus lacustris. The swift was noticed 

 in plenty on the wing. Leaving the river banks at Barlby, the 

 conchologists found a solitary individual of Helix asjperm^ and other 

 common species. 



The first united meeting was held at half-past one, round the sign- 

 post which stands in the centre of the common. Here luncheon was 

 disposed of, and here were seen specimens which had been taken by 

 various members on their dilfferent lines of route. Amongst these 

 were very noticeable a pair of very fine lizards in the possession of 

 Mr. S. Jefferson, F.C.S., of Leeds, who had taken them on the 

 common. He had also grasshoppers, and the diadem spider (Epeira 

 diadema). Numerous members had collected tJie plant of the locality 

 — the beautiful and rare Gentiana PneumonanlJie — found on many parts 

 of the common. At this time and place Dr. H. Franklin Pars ns, 



