38 



The Na^turalist. 



cloth. Mr, Andrews reported a fungus, Boletus luridus, found at Gras- 

 sington, which has not been recorded before in this district. Mr. West 

 gave a Hst of sedges found about Hawksworth. Mr. Waddington sent 

 a specimen of Rhagmm inqiiisator, from Horton, a species new to the 

 district. 



Meeting, August 7th. — Mr. Soppitt gave a report of a ramble with the 

 Y.N.U. to Washburn valley, where were found Nephrodium Oreopteris, 

 Equisetum hyemale, and E. Umosum {E. hyemale not recorded before), 

 also, Uredo hifrons and Syncliitrium tamxaci also new, and Carex 

 paniculata, found there for the first time. Mr, Firth reported having 

 observed the cole titmouse at Shipley Glen. Mr. West gave an account 

 of a walk over Thornton moor, with a description of the various species 

 of scale mosses found there. 



Laxgashiee and Cheshire Entomological Society. — Meeting, July 

 30th, the Rev. S. F. Williams occupying the chair in the absence of the 

 president. — Mr, A. 0. Walker (Chester) read a paper entitled " A 

 consideration of some of the causes afiecting the distribution of the 

 Lepidoptera of Great Britain," in which he showed, by a comparison of 

 the lepidopterous fauna of several districts, that the number of species of 

 butterflies and moths whose larvae feed upon trees became much more 

 numerous than those whose larvse feed upon herbaceous plants, as we 

 proceed easterly or south-easterly. Meteorological observations show 

 that the easterly and south-easterly portions of our island are warmer, 

 therefore drier, than the north or north-west, and from this fact, and the 

 known injurious effects of wet food upon caterpillars, he deduced the 

 principal cause affecting the distribution of at least tree-feeding lepidop- 

 tera as being the presence of more or less moisture in the atmosphere. 

 The paper led to an interesting discussion. 



Yorkshire ISTattiralists' Union. — Washbcjrndale, Aug. 6th. — The 

 Bank Holiday Monday this year was planned for the exploration of the 

 secluded and picturesque valley of the Washburn, the meetings being 

 held at Otley. There was a heavy shower of rain in the forenoon, but 

 the weather cleared up at noon, and was afterwards brilliantly fine and 

 sunny. Three parties had been arranged for. Of these, Mr. Clarke led 

 a party from Poole Station past the pretty village of Leathley, 

 through Lindley Wood and round the reservoir to Otley. Other mem- 

 bers drove from Otley to Blubberhouses, and under the guidance of 

 Messrs. Grassham and Roebuck, who were kindly and ably assisted by 

 Mr. Thomas Harrison, Lord Walsingham's agent, explored the valley 

 upwards to West End. Returning to Blubberhorses the party returned 

 to Otley by conveyance. Other members explored Washburn individually, 

 and others again did not explore it at all, but visited Otley Chevin and 

 other parts of the main dale of Wharfe. The tea and meetings were all 

 at the White Horse Hotel, Otley. At the general meeting, Mr, J. W. 

 Davis, F.S.A., of Halifax, president of the Geological Section, presided. 



