379 



THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION 



AT BLUBBERHOUSES. 



The excursion season of 1885 was brought to a close by a most successful and 

 interesting meeting held at Blubberhouses, in Washburndale, on Saturday the 

 26th September, by invitation of the Right Hon. Lord Walsingham, M.A., ex- 

 President of the Union. The invitation had been given for his Lordship's year of 

 office as President, but circumstances had caused its postponement for a year. 

 Arrangements having been made for conveyances to leave Harrogate at 9.0 a.m., 

 Blubberhouses was reached shortly before ii.o a.m. On the arrival of the visitors 

 they were received by Lord Walsingham and his cousin, Sir Ralph Payne- 

 Gallwey, Bart. Two parties were at once formed. The smaller, which was under 

 the charge of Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, F.L.S., investigated the margins of the 

 Fewston reservoir — permission having been granted by Mr. Alderman Woodhouse, 

 chairman of the Waterworks Committee of the Leeds Corporation, for members to 

 have full access to their property, and every facility granted under his instructions 

 by Mr. T. E. Bower, the resident superintendent. The larger party of members 

 accompanied his Lordship, who guided them along the Kexgill Road to see the 

 geological sections there exposed ; thence conducting the party over his grouse 

 moors, and into the Washburn groove, which was followed down stream to Blubber- 

 houses. Several isolated parties of members alighted at Otley, and followed the 

 beautiful scenery of the valley up stream to the rendezvous. AH parties united at 

 about 3.0 p.m., when they were entertained by his Lordship to a substantial tea, 

 served in a marquee erected on the lawn, in which, after the interval of the 

 sectional meetings (at the Frankland Arms Inn), the general meeting was held. 



The chair of the general meeting was occupied by Lord Walsingham, and about 

 80 or 90 members, including Sir R. Payne-Gallwey, Bart., and Sir Pei^cival 

 Radclifife, Bart., were present. In opening the meeting, his Lordship gave the 

 substance of a letter which the Secretaries had received from the President of the 

 Union (Rev. W. H. Dall.inger, LL.D., F.R.S.), expressing his great regret at 

 being again unable to be present with the Union, an inability caused by wholly 

 adverse circumstances, and his Lordship further explained that Dr. Dallinger's 

 tenure of the office had been precipitated a year earlier than had been expected by 

 reason of his own inability to accept office for a second term, and also that at least 

 two Union meetings had happened to be fixed for days of important engage- 

 ments in connection with Wesley College, of which Dr. Dallinger is Principal. 

 The minutes having been accepted as read, the list of societies was called over, 

 when it was found that representatives of the following 22 societies were present : — 

 Barnsley, Beverley, Bradford (3 societies), Dewsbury, Elland-cum-Greetland, Goole, 

 Halifax, Heckmondwike, Ilkley, Leeds(3),Liversedge, Ovenden, Ripon, Rotherham, 

 Selby, Wakefield, York, and the Practical Naturalists' Society. Five new members 

 were elected, viz.: — Sir Percival Radcliffe, Bart., Rudding Park, and Messrs. T. E. 

 Bower of Fewston, Walter Copley of Halifax, A. C. Davies of Ackworth, and Harry 

 Davis of Halifax. Mr. J. W. Davis, F.S.A., of Halifax, then proposed that the 

 thanks of the Union be presented to Mr. Alderman Woodhouse and the Leeds 

 Waterworks Committee for the permission to investigate the margins of the reser- 

 voirs. This was unanimously adopted, after being seconded by the Rev. E. Ponsonby 

 Knubley, M.A., Rector of Staveley, who, in course of his remarks, threw out one 

 to the effect that it would be extremely interesting to ascertain what effect the 

 formation of three such extensive sheets of water in the valley as the Fewston, 

 Swinsty, and Lindley Wood Reservoirs had had upon the flora and fauna of the 

 district. The sectional reports were then given. 



For the Vertebrate section its secretary, Mr. James Backhouse, jun., M.B.O.U., 

 of York, reported that as far as the number of species was concerned, little had 

 been noted during the day, probably owing, in the first place, to the fact that the 

 W^ter in the reservoirs was unusually low, and in the second place, to the lateness 

 of the season. The Willow Wren, and possibly the Ring Ousel, were the only 

 sutnmer migrants observed or heard, but several resident or periodical visitants 

 wire reported, including the Greenshank (fresh to the district), Wild Duck, Wild 

 Gpese (small flock seen flying over), an old drake Goldeneye, Teal, Goldfinch, 

 Ringed Plover, &c. The actual number of species noted was only 35. A Field 



Npv. 1885. 



i . 



