158 The Naturalist. 



OvENDEN Naturalists' Society. — Monthly meeting, March 31st, 

 Mr. T. Scott in the chair. — Mr. T. Sheard named the botanical 

 specimens : — XJlex Europeus, Stellaria media, Fragaria vesca, Caltha 

 pahtstris, Arum maculatum, Primula vulgaris, Petasites vulgaris, Tussilago 

 Farfara. A number of geological specimens were exhibited and 

 named by Messrs. Scott and Cockroft, viz : — Goniatites Listeri, Orthoceras 

 aululatum, Calamites cannmformis, C. approximatus, and Lepidostrobus 

 orneus from the Northowram coal measures. The wheatear was heard 

 on Nov. 27th, by Mr. T. Scott, at Brickfield, Ovenden. Mr. T. Hirst 

 exhibited a number of British and foreign birds, amongst them being a 

 pair of little owls, a pair of Chinese owls, a pair of snowy owls from 

 America, four griffin vultures from Portugal, a pair of short-eared owls, 

 a pair of long-eared owls, a pair of screech owls, and a beautiful case of 

 pheasants and partridges. 



Wakefield Naturalists' Society. — Monthly meeting, April 5th, 

 J, Wain Wright, Esq., F.L.S., in the chair. — Mr. Marson exhibited 

 Amphydasis hetularia (black variety). Mr. Wilcock Zonites glaher, 

 supposed to be the first time taken in the district. Mr. Wainwright then 

 proceeded to give an account of his Oriental tour, which he illustrated 

 with specimens of shells, fruits, and ornaments, collected by him from 

 Cairo, Athens, and the Nile. — John Spurling, Secretary. 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. — The opening meeting for 1877 of 

 the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists' Society was held at Pontefract 

 on Easter Monday, the 2nd of April. Nineteen Societies were represented 

 during the day, the only Societies absent being Ripponden, Holmfirth, 

 and Rastrick ; and the attendance at the meeting numbered over 

 120 members. During the forenoon the districts round Pontefract, 

 including the woods and grounds of Fryston Hall, by permission of Lord 

 Houghton, were investigated by numerous parties of members. The 

 geologists mustered strongly at some new cuttings on the line of the 

 Swinton and Knottingley Railway, which is now in course of construction 

 close to Pontefract. A large party of over 90 assembled at the ruins of 

 the castle, over which they were ably conducted by Mr. Richard Holmes, 

 and afterwards a visit was paid to the partly-ruined church of All Saints, 

 under the guidance of the vicar. Tea was served at three o'clock at the 

 Red Lion Hotel. At four o'clock trial was made of the new plan of 

 meeting in sections, on the British Association principle, for the exami- 

 nation of the various specimens collected. There were five sections 

 meeting separately and simultaneously. This being the first meeting 

 under the new rules, the first business of each section was the election of 

 its officers. The Vertebrate Section elected as president Mr. Wm. Talbot, 

 of Wakefield, and as secretary Mr. Thomas Lister, of Barnsley, The 

 Conchological Section elected as president Mr. Wm. Nelson, of Leeds, and 

 as secretary Mr. Henry Crowther, of the Leeds Museum. The Entomo- 

 logical Section elected as president Mr. Wm. Prest, of Yorkj and as 

 secretary Mr. Geo. T. Porritt, F.L.S., of Huddersfield. The Botanical 



