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The Naturalist. 



first Saturday in March, 1882. It was also decided, on the recommenda- 

 tion of the Council, that the circulars for the first five excursions be 

 limited to a single page. The officers for 1881 were then elected, Prof. 

 Williamson being again chosen as president, on the motion of Dr. H. C. 

 Sorby, F.R.S. Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, Leeds, was re-elected as 

 secretary, and, Mr. Brook retiring from office, Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, 

 M.B.O.U., Leeds, was elected to the second secretaryship. The auditors 

 (Messrs. A. Crebbin of Bradford, and C. W. Richardson of Wakefield) 

 were re-elected. A vote of thanks to Mr. Prest for acting as local 

 secretary, and another to the various officers of the Union for their 

 services during the year, were passed. Seventeen societies were repre- 

 sented at the meeting, and eleven entirely absent. After an adjournment, 

 the presidential address was delivered * in the large hall at seven o'clock, 

 the chair being occupied by the Lord Mayor of York (Mr. J. S . Rowntree) 

 who was accompanied on the platform by the City Sheriff (Mr. R. 

 Thompson), Dr. Sorby, Mr. Aid. Terry, president of the York Society, 

 and other gentlemen. A vote of thanks to the president was proposed by 

 Dr. Sorby, seconded by Mr. Thos. Hick, B.A., B.Sc, and supported by 

 the Sheriff, and carried ; also one to the Lord Mayor for presiding. The 

 company then proceeded to the enjoyment of a conversazione and 

 microscopical soiree, which had been provided by the York and District 

 Field Naturalists' Society, and which passed off very successfully. The 

 hall, had been fitted up with tables, on which were tastefully displayed 

 the principal treasures of the above society, and also several valuable 

 contributions from members of other societies in the Union. Amongst 

 the local contributions there was a large collection of British grasses, by 

 Mr. Bewlay of York : a capital exhibition of lepidoptera and coleoptera, 

 principally shown by Mr. Prest, the secretary, and by Mr. Jackson, 

 York : a valuable assortment of British and foreign ferns and other 

 plants, collected and mounted by Mr. J. H. Carr, York. Amongst other 

 curiosities were also a collection of shells and petrifactions from Knares- 

 borough, and a beautiful series of drawings by Dr. Sorby, of Sheffield, 

 made during the cruise of his yacht the Glimpse, from May to October 

 last year. The drawings had special reference to meteorology, and to 

 climatic and meteoric changes. But valuable and interesting as these 

 exhibits were, the microscopes formed the chief centre of interest. Of 

 these there was a grand display, some most valuable ones having been 

 contributed for the occasion by Mr. Farmer (late Cook and Sons), Coney- 

 street, and Mr. R. Smith, High Ousegate. Dr. Tempest Anderson, York, 

 Messrs. C. P. Hobkirk, F.L.S., and G. Brook, F.L.S., of Huddersfield, 

 Thomas Hick, B.A., Harrogate, T. Birks and J. Harrison, Goole, 

 Washington Teasdale, Leeds, and other gentlemen connected with the 

 Union, also contributed to this department of the soiree. The chief of 

 the objects shown by the microscopes had special reference to botany, 

 and were designed to illustrate the presidential address. — W. D. R. 



* See page 97. 



