160 



The Naturalist. 



Miss M. Morton, Rev. Edward Gray, and Rev. H. H. Slater, B.A., 

 F.Z.S., of Ripon. Mr. W. Denison Roebuck of Leeds proposed, and 

 Mr. F. Arnold Lees, F.L.S., of Wetherby, seconded a vote of thanks to 

 to the Rev. H. H. Slater, B.A., F.Z.S., for his services as local secretary, 

 and to the Marquess of Ripon for permission to visit his estates. 

 Mr. Roebuck remarked that in Mr. Slater, who has recently come 

 into Yorkshire, the Union has received a welcome addition to its 

 working strength, Mr. Slater was one of the three naturalists who 

 accompanied the Transit of Yenus expedition to Rodriguez, and a 

 naturalist of considerable attainments in various branches. A vote of 

 thanks was also passed for certain donations of books as a nucleus of a 

 library. The Sectional Reports were then called for, as follows : — Mr. 

 F. Arnold Lees, F.L.S.. secretary of the Botanical Section, stated that 83 

 phanerogamia and ferns were observed during the day, only twelve of 

 which were in bloom, owing to the early date of the meeting, and the 

 lateness of the season. The only four species worthy of mention were 

 Draba verna, Adoxa Moschatellina, Chrysosplenium alternifolium, and 

 Veronica montana. Mr. Wm. West, cryptogamic secretary of the 

 Botanical Section, reported about 82 species of mosses observed, inclu- 

 ding Pterygophyllum lucens, Eucladium verticillatum, Dichodontium 

 pellucidum, Hypnum stramineum, and H. Schreberi. Seventeen species 

 of Hepatics were observed, the rarer of which were — Lejeunia serpylli- 

 folia, Ptilidium ciliare, Frullania dilatata, and Jungermannia connivens. 

 Nine common species of lichens were seen. A few fungi were noticed, 

 CEcidium Ficarise, and Melampsora salicina being amongst them. Several 

 algae were collected, including Chroolepus aureum. The officers of the 

 Vertebrate Section being absent, Mr. E. E. Prince, of Leeds, stated that 

 but little had been observed. The squirrel was seen at Tanfield, and large 

 quantities of dead moles in the grounds at Hackfall ; while of birds none 

 but common species had been noticed. Mr. W. Cash, F.G.S., president 

 of the Conchological Section, reported that nine species of fresh- water and 

 25 species of land shells had been met with during the day. In the 

 Fluviatile species the most interesting were Ancylus lacustris, v. com- 

 pressa, obtained by Mr. Cash from the leaves of the yellow water-lily at 

 West Tanfield, and two of Colbean's varieties (undulata and trifasciata) 

 of Neritina fluviatilis, collected by Mr. J. W. Taylor in the river Ure at 

 Hackfall. The most remarkable land shells collected were Helix sericea, 

 var. cornea, found at Hackfall by Mr. Nelson, and Clausilia laminata at 

 Tanfield by Mr. Cash. For the Entomological Section, the president, 

 Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., reported that in consequence of the early 

 period of the year, and of the recent east winds, very little had been 

 done, and the few species observed were of the commonest description. 

 He had no doubt, however, from the nature of the ground, that later in 

 the year it would prove a very good district. The Geological Section was 

 represented by its president, Prof. A. H. Green, M.A., F.G.S., and its 

 secretary, Mr. James Spencer [no report received.] — W. D. R. 



