174 



The Naturalist. 



The day ^as brilliantly fine throughout. The greater number of the 

 excursionists alighted at Castle Howard Station, only a few proceeding to 

 Malton to inspect the quarries and other sections which abound in the 

 immediate vicinity. The Castle Howard party split up into several groups, 

 each led by a local gentleman. Capt. Russell was in charge of one party, 

 which proceeded by way of Welburn to Castle Howard, where the house 

 and grounds were inspected and the route afterwards prolonged through 

 the Hildenley Estate, the seat of Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., the High 

 Sheriff of Yorkshire, to Malton. Sir Charles, who is himself a good 

 geologist and botanist, not only threw open his grounds, but kindly 

 allowed his collection of fossils — a very fine one — to be inspected. The 

 grounds contained some noble specimens of coniferous trees, and Hildenley 

 wood, a patch of old forest ground, contains some rare plants. The other 

 parties, conducted by jMessrs. M. B, Slater, H. Hurtley, S. King, and 

 Chadwick, followed a difi'erent route to Castle Howard, by way of Gilla 

 Leys, Crambe Beck Stream, and the Ray Wood, collecting by the way. 

 One or two of the botanists made a call upon Dr. Spruce, the eminent 

 bryologist; at his residence a.t Coneysthorpe. The party which investigated 

 the vicinity of IMalton was entirely geological, and was accompanied by 

 IMessrs. G. Slater, W. Constable, G. Edson, and others ; besides examin- 

 ing the C[uarries, they had the opportunity of inspecting a collection of 

 fossils, which, contributed by some of the Malton collectors, was laid out 

 in the meeting-room of the Geological Section. All parties made their 

 way to Malton by about four o'clock, when tea was served at the Talbot 

 Hotel. The sectional meetings were much interfered with by the fact 

 that many members, including officers of sections, had to leave by train, 

 about five p.m. The general meeting was held in the large room of the 

 Literary Institute, and was presided over by the new president, Prof. 

 W. C. Williamson, F.R.S., of Manchester, who met with a hearty 

 welcome on being introduced to the meeting by Mr. Thos. Hick, B.A., 

 B. Sc. ; the attendance was large, about 70 or 80, including representatives 

 of the Ovenden, Bradford (Naturalists' Society and Scientific Association), 

 Leeds (Naturalists' Club and Conchological Society), York, Huddersfield 

 (Literary and Scientific Society), Driffield (Literary and Scientific Society), 

 and Dewsbury Naturalists' Societies. A vote of thanks to Capt. Russell, 

 Messrs. H. W. Pearson, Chadwick, Wm. Constable, and E. Bamby of 

 Malton, ]\Ir. T. Townsley of Leeds, Mr. J. Bennett of Bradford, 

 Zylr. John Braim of Pickering, Mr. J. Whitfield, F.C.S., and Miss Whit- 

 field, of Scarborough, !Mr. John Wright of Terrington, and Rev. E. 

 Maule Cole, vicar of Wetwang, for becoming subscribers to the funds, 

 was passed unanimously. On the motion of Mr. J. Thrippleton, seconded 

 by Mr. Thos. Hick, B.A,, B.Sc, thanks were voted to Mr. M. B. Slater 

 of Malton, for his services as local secretary ; to Capt. Russell, Messrs. 

 W. Constable, H. Hurtley, George Edson, J" Gibson, jun., S. Chadwick, 

 and G. Slater, of Malton, for acting as guides and leaders of parties ; to 

 Sir C. W. Strickland, Bart., for permission to visit his grounds ; for 



