Hewetson : Origin, &c,, of Y. N. U. 



131 



of but a few men earnest in their attachment to Nature — the West 

 Eiding Consolidated Naturalists' Society received new blood, a fresh 

 impetus which led to the formation of a council of management, and 

 the extension of the Society's title to that of the " Yorkshire 

 Naturalists' Union," which had for its objects the investigation of 

 the Natural History of the whole of Yorkshire. At the same time it 

 was resolved that the transactions of the Union should be preserved 

 in a suitable manner, so that the records in ornithology, entomology, 

 botany, conchology, &c., should each have their apportioned pages in 

 the transactions, and retain their individual sequence. I will refer, for 

 example, to a most important work, at present in progress, by 

 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, which is intended to record, in their natural 

 order, all obtainable information relating to the occurrence and habits 

 of Yorkshire birds. Messrs. Nelson & Taylor, of this town, are 

 producing a like work in conchology. Mr. Porritt intends to carry out 

 a similar work on lepidoptera. I must ask pardon for passing over 

 these sections without a remark, being obliged to confess that I am 

 not cultivated enough in their especial lines to make any criticism of 

 mine of value. Reports of the sections into which the Union is divided 

 are prepared upon this principle — that when complete they can be 

 bound in separate volumes, which will enable a future reader to obtain 

 whatever information he may be in search of more readily. The 

 Union was finally remodelled in 1877, and the working is continued 

 as successfully as it was then commenced. 



The ultimate success of the Yorkshire Society, and its smooth 

 transition from the ovum to the imago, I am reminded was in a large 

 measure due to the geniality and untiring zeal rendering popular the 

 Rev. William Fowler, M. A., who held the presidential helm, and guided 

 safely and surely the reunion to its ultimate completion. Dr. Clifton 

 Sorby, F.R.S., next filled the presidential chair, followed by Professor 

 Williamson, F.R.S. It needs no words of mine to show the enormous 

 advantage derived by the Union from its possessing on its council such 

 marked examples of truly scientific and eminently original men. 



It is the custom for the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union to meet about six 

 times a year. Previous to the meeting the locality is fixed upon, and 

 a general sketch, sent in prospectus, pointing out the chief natural 

 features of interest to each section. A map of Yorkshire is being 

 prepared, which will greatly assist in this respect, and enable the 

 various sections to set to work, at once, upon their arrival at the place 

 of meeting. The day over (and a meal disposed of with a relish, to 

 which the fresh air and an enthusiasm known only to naturalists greatly 



