Reports of Societies. 



159 



the meeting. The day was very favourable, the bright sunshine doing 

 much to counteract the effects of a cold east wind. A most enjoyable 

 day was spent. The meetings were held at the Devonshire Hotel, 

 where about forty members partook of tea. At the general meeting the 

 number of members was considerably augmented, and in all between 

 fifty and sixty members were present, representing eleven of the incor- 

 porated Societies. The chair was filled by Mr. Wm. Cash, F.G.S., of 

 Halifax. The minutes having been read and confirmed, the Keighley 

 Scientific and Literary Society was admitted into the Union on the 

 motion of Mr. Jones, seconded by Mr. Roebuck. A list of new sub- 

 scribers, ten in number, was read to the meeting, and a vote of thanks 

 recorded. Yotes of thanks were then presented to the local secretary 

 for the able manner in which he had arranged for the meeting ; to the 

 donors of several valuable acquisitions to the library ; to Mr. Ross, the 

 agent for Sir H. J. Tufton, and to Mr. Dewhirst, for permission to 

 ramble on their estates. The Sectional Reports were then given as 

 follows : — Mr. Wm. Eagle Clarke, for vertebrate zoology, stated that in 

 a walk from Barnoldswick to Gisburn and back, twenty-three species of 

 resident birds had been observed, including local species of the northern 

 type, such as the dipper, grey wagtail, and curlew ; six summer visitants, 

 the redstart, willow-wren, swallow, sand-martin, white wagtail, and pied 

 flycatcher — the last two being most interesting observations ; the white 

 wagtail having been recorded on very few occasions in the county; 

 whilst Ribblesdale (Yorkshire) is a new locality for the extremely local 

 pied flycatcher. Mr. Wm. Cash, for conchological section, reported 

 eleven species (freshwater), viz., Sphserium corneum, Bithinia tentaculata, 

 Valvata piscinalis, Limnsea peregi'a, L. palustris, L. truncatula, Succinea 

 — gracilis, Planorbis contortus, P. vortex, Physa fontinalis, and Ancylus 

 fluviatilis — all at Gisburn ; also twenty-two land species, viz., Yitrina 

 pellucida, Zonites cellarius, Z. alliarius, Z. nitidulus, Z. crystallinus, 

 Z. purus, Z. nitidus. Helix hispida, H. caperata, H. arbustorum, and 

 H. nifescens, in woods near Skipton Castle ; H. rupestris at Draughton ; 

 H. nemoralis, H. rotundata, ClausiKa laminata, C. rugosa, C, rugosa. var. 

 dubia, Cochlicopa tridens, C. lubrica, and Pupa umbilicata, obtained 

 near Skipton Castle ; Balea perversa at Draughton ; and Corychium 

 minimum, also near Skipton Castle. In the entomological section Mr. 

 G. T. Porritt reported that the prolonged winter had retarded vegetation, 

 and consequently there were but few insects. A few species in the 

 various orders had been taken, but none worthy of special note. Mr. W. 

 West reported for the botanical section. The localities visited were the 

 immediate vicinity of Skipton, and the district about Elslack, Thornton, 

 Barnoldswick, and Gisburn. The season being very backward, only 184 

 species of vascular plants were noted, Ranunculus Lenormandi, Yiola 

 hirta, Nuphar lutea, and Primula farinosa being among the rarer ones 

 collected. A large number of mosses were collected, fifty species being 

 recognised at the meeting ; Brachythecium rivulare, Eurhynchium 



