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The Naturalist. 



The Leeds Naturalists' Club and Scientific Association. — 234th 

 Meeting, Nov. 21st, Mr. John Grassham, V.P., in the chair. — The chair- 

 man mentioned that three weeks ago a redwing {Turdus Iliacus) was 

 killed near Arthington, and is now in his son's possession. He remarked 

 that it was rather early for the first appearance of this winter visitant. 

 Mr. W. H. Hay showed the skin of a brambling or mountain finch 

 {Fringilla montifringilla), which had flown against the telegraph wires at 

 Scarcroft, near Wetherby, and was picked up dead imder them on the 

 I7th of November. He stated that the species was a winter visitant, 

 generally diffused all over the county, though by no means common. 

 Mr. Hay also said that when the telegraph wires between Leeds and 

 Wetherby were first erected, birds were often picked up under them, 

 having committed unintentional suicide, but that now the birds seemed 

 to have become acquainted with the wires and avoided them, and conse- 

 quently very few specimens are now obtained in that way. Mr. Charles 

 Smethurst exhibited a fine rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), which 

 he had the same day (Nov. 21st) taken out of a trap at Bishops Wood, 

 near Selby, and which he had seen on the wing some six weeks ago at 

 the same place. This bird measured 56 inches across the wings from tip 

 to tip. The species is extremely rare at the present time, although a 

 number of examples have been recorded at various times as having been 

 killed in various parts of Yorkshire. The secretary (W, D. R.) mentioned 

 that when in Ripon in the beginning of November, he saw in a bird- 

 stufier's window in Kirkgate a specimen of one of the buzzards in the 

 flesh, but he could not say whether it was this or the common buzzard. 

 Mr. Smethurst also showed a hooded crow (Gorvus Comix) from Bishops 

 Wood, also in the flesh. This bird is a winter visitor in this part of the 

 country. Mr. William Nelson showed two interesting shells, collected 

 near Killingbeck, Zonites crystallinus and Helix pulchella, variety costata. 

 Mr. C. Bothamley exhibited a species of Sigillaria ( ? oculata), locality 

 unknown ; and Mr, George Brunton brought some seeds of the blue gum 

 tree of Australia {Eucalyptus globulus), mentioning that the tree was 

 considered a useful one from a sanitary point of view, and specially 

 suited for planting in cemeteries, especially crowded ones, if it could be 

 acclimatised in Britain. 



235th Meeting, Tuesday, December 12th, Mr. S. Jefierson, F.C.S., 

 president, in the chair. — Mr. W. Percy Sladen, F.L.S., F.G.S., of 

 Halifax, delivered an interesting lecture "Concerning Echini," in the 

 course of which he traced the development and transformations of the 

 sea-urchins in general, illustrating his remarks by means of numerous 

 diagrams. The discussion was participated in by Messrs. James Abbott, 

 W. B. Turner, and the president. 



236th Meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 19th, Mr. John Grassham, V.P., in 

 the chair. — Mr. John Garbutt, F.R.A.S., delivered a lecture upon " The 

 Moon's motion, and its relation to the Tides," which he explained by 



