Reports of Societies. 



175 



secretary exhibited a very fine specimen of the diamond beetle, from 

 Thebes, taken by Mr. J. Wainwright, of Wakefield, during his tour in 

 Egypt and Syria last autumn ; also fine specimens of -Fidonia conspicuata. 

 — W. Prest, Hon. Sec. 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Uniois". — The second meeting of the year was 

 held at Wetherby on the 21st of May. The district being a very pro- 

 ductive one in various branches of natural history, there was, in spite of 

 the unpromising weather, the enforced absence of many members 

 connected with Sunday schools, and the inaccessibility of the locality 

 from several towns, a very good attendance, nearly a hundred members 

 being present during the day. Among the chief attractions of the 

 district were the numerous fine and large trees, including the famous 

 Cowthorpe Oak, the Tockwith Broad Oak, a very remarkable and fine 

 cherry tree at Eark Deighton, and a large amount of fine timber in the 

 valleys both of the Wharfe and ISTidd. A party of members who visited 

 the grounds of Hibston Park by permission of John Dent Dent, Esq. , were 

 courteously conducted over the grounds by Mr. Jones, the head gardener. 

 He showed them the original stump of the famous Ribston pippin, 

 preserved in his house, also the young shoot which has sprung from the 

 old root ; also a very ancient mulberry tree in the yard of the chapel 

 attached to the house, and said to have been planted by the Knights 

 Templars ; in a garden a very fine collection of pines, of which some of 

 the Wdlingtonias were very good ; and a specimen of the Pyrus domestica, 

 not elsewhere known to exist in a wild state in England except in the 

 forest of Wyre, in Staffordshire. A large number of members explored 

 the country about Collingham, and one of the parties followed a very 

 interesting route down the left or north bank of the Wharfe between 

 Wetherby and Flint Mill. All the parties re-assembled at Wetherby at 

 three o'clock, when tea was provided in the lower room of the Town 

 Hall. After tea, the sections met, two in the Town Hall, and the other 

 three at the Angel Hotel. The general meeting was held at 5 p.m., in 

 the upper room of the Town Hall, Mr. Joseph Wainwright, F.L. S., 

 presiding. The Leeds Geological Association was elected into the Union. 

 The roll of societies was called, when it was found that representatives 

 were present from the following societies : — Huddersfield (Naturalists'), 

 Heckmondwike, Barnsley, Wakefield, Ovenden, Liversedge, Bradford, 

 Leeds (Naturalists' Club), Goole, York, Selby, Huddersfield (Literary 

 and Scientific), Huddersfield (Scientific Club), Leeds (Conchological 

 Club), and Leeds (Geological Association). The visitors included 

 Mr. Henry Crossley, of Wetherby, the Rev. J. T. Toogood, M.A., 

 rector of Kirkby Overblow, and Mr. Emmett, of Boston Spa. The 

 reports of the sections were then given. Mr. Henry Crowther, of Leeds, 

 secretary of the conchological section, reported that forty-one species and 

 seven varieties had been taken, including Cyclostoma elegans and 

 Clausilia lamiyiata in abundance. Mr, Emmett showed some good shells 



