16 



The Naturalist. 



Dalbeatic granite, from the Galloway mountains, of the St. John's Vale 

 syenite, and of the Ennerdale syenite from the Lake district, occur at 

 EUand in tolerable abundance. At EUand Station and Cemetery there 

 are beds of old river gravel and boulders of local sandstone which are of 

 far older date than even the glacial beds. Mr. Spencer entered pretty 

 fully into the various theories respecting their appearance in the Calder 

 valley ; he also gave his opinion with reference to what is usually termed 

 " rain-drop marking " on the local flagstone deposit, but which he 

 believed to have been made by marine worms which had infested the 

 mud shallows of the sea at the period of deposit. This opinion was also 

 held by the Rev. W. Fowler. — Mr. J. Tindall, of Huddersfield, exhibited 

 hazel nuts found at the depth of 12 to 14 feet in the alluvial deposits of 

 the Calder. Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., reported on the lepidoptera of the 

 locality and named the specimens, including Notodonta camelina, 

 N. dromedarius, and others. The birds of the district were reported 

 upon by Mr. T. Lister, of Barnsley, Mr. C. C. Hanson, of Stain- 

 land, and other ornithologists. Mr. Lister remarked that the birds 

 were found less numerous on this occasion than had been observed in the 

 spring excursions, perhaps on account of the thick foliage, and their being 

 busily employed in feeding their young, causing them to sing more rarely 

 at this period of the year. Of the summer migrants we have recorded 

 the sedge warbler, wheatear, whitethroat (with young), whinchat, willow 

 wren, tree pipit, yellow or Ray's wagtail (with young) in mottled darkish 

 grey plumage, robin (with young) in mottled darkish brown plumage, 

 redstart, swallow, house martin, sand martin, fand swift. The resident 

 birds were — the marsh and blue tit, missel thrush or storm cock, song 

 thrush, blackbird, skylark, meadow pipit or titlark, grey or song linnet, 

 green linnet or greenfinch, pied wagtail, lesser redpole, chafiinch, twite or 

 mountain linnet, yellowhammer, corn bunting, tree or rock sparrow, 

 wren, and jackdaws. The beautiful goldfinch was also reported, but the 

 exact place prudently not revealed. — Mr. T. Ormerod, of Brighouse, 

 called the attention of the members to the Societies' journal. The 

 Naturalist, and congratulated the editors on the success they had 

 attained in their first year's work. He was glad to hear that the 

 editors were not out of pocket, and suggested that an occasional 

 "editorial " should be given on bird preservation. The Rev. W. Fowler 

 supplemented these remarks, recommending the magazine as the principal 

 medium of communication amongst the societies of the West Riding. 

 Mr. Hobkirk, on his own and the behalf of his co-editor, thanked the 

 gentlemen for these remarks, which should be attended to as far as 

 possible. The chairman, after reading a communication from the secre- 

 tary of the Leeds Society inviting the co-operation of the Consolidated 

 Society to their excursion to Boronghbridge and Aldborough, on Monday, 

 the 7th August, reminded the members that the next Consolidated 

 meeting would take place on Saturday, the 5th August, at Honley. 



