Reports of Societies. 



15& 



authority of Prof. Williamson, F.R.S., form the life-blood of science," 

 for without them no scientific association can flourish. lie was, when 

 well, full of energy and enthusiasm, of a gentle and peaceful disposition, 

 ever ready to help young beginners in the study of botany, and to render 

 all the aid he could to the science he loved so well. A kind father, a 

 faithful husband, and a tried friend, he has gone to his rest without 

 leaving an enemy behind him, and amid the tears and true sorrow of 

 numerous relatives and friends. — J. Ogden. 



Barnsley Naturalists' Society. — A summary has been given of the 

 remarkable occurrences of the winter season. The most curious or rare 

 have been partly recorded, as Richardson's squa, Oct. 27th ; waxwing, 

 Dec. 20, by Mr. H. Garland, who obtained another the year before at 

 same place, Bolton-on-Dearne ; and the Sclavonian grebe, Jan. , 3 829. 

 Several gulls, flocks of wild geese and ducks in the Dearne valley, when 

 inundated by the snow floods about Feb. 25th. Thrush, with eggs, noted 

 at Swithen March 4th, this rich songster again becoming more plentiful 

 there than at Hemsworth, and was heard also at Biighouse April 18th. 

 Blackbirds more numerous at Barnsley, increasing slowly after the winter 

 of 1880-81. The secretary read letters from magistrates and police officers 

 that his application for enforcing the Birds' Protection Act would be 

 attended to. Starlings, meadow-pipits, pied wagtails, partially migrating 

 in the late frosts, are returning in numbers. The grey wagtail has not yet 

 gone to its breeding haunts, the north-west Yorkshire hills. Golden- 

 crested wrens, kingfishers, a few herons, a carrion crow, many jays and 

 magpies, reported in diflerent parts. Several reports received of swallows 

 and other migrants — one swallow as early as April 2nd, another 3rd and 

 5th ; cuckoo 10th and ] 3th ; willow warbler and chiffchaff" April 8 ; tree 

 pipit, 11th. Martins seen by Mr. G. J. Dymond on the 17th at Darfield 

 and Parkgate ; redstart and lesser whitethroat near Silkstone. Wheat- 

 ear, usually the first visitant — average date March 26th — seen at WooUey 

 Edge by Dr. White, Apr. 4th ; a fine stoat taken by Mr. R. Creightoii at 

 Hemsworth, Feb. 26th. A toad was seen by Mr. J. Dewhirst, of Womb- 

 well, in his greenhouse, to cast his black skin and eat it — the new skin 

 being of a whitish tint — Feb. 16th. 



Bradford Naturalists' Society. — Meeting Mar. 20th, the president 

 in the chair. — Dr. W. H. Evans gave a paper on "Land and Fresh- 

 water Shells," minutely describing their characteristics, mode and 

 tenacity of life, habitat, &c. The lecture was illustrated by a large 

 number of shells, some of them very rare. Mr. Eastwood exhibited, on 

 behalf of Mr. Rudd, a specimen of S. convolvuli, taken at Great Horton 

 eight years ago. 



Meeting April 3rd, the president in the chair. — Accounts of rambles 

 were given by several members. Mr. Oxley exhibited Ranunculus 



