116 



The Naturalist. 



expedition was undertaken by Messrs. W. Nelson, J. W. Taylor, and W. 

 D. Roebuck. On this occasion the line of route was entirely in Yorkshire; 

 starting from Finningley, and proceeding due north, through Blaxton, 

 where Nelson found specimens of Helix iiemoralis, var. olivacea. At Blaxton 

 Grange, the examination of a series of productive ditches soon provided 

 ample employment. The only land shells taken were solitary examples 

 of Zonites alliarius and Succinea elegans, taken by Roebuck. The water 

 shells taken included Pisidium nitidum, both species of Bythinia, 

 Valvata piscinalis, Flanorhis corneus, P. contortus, P. complanatns, P. 

 vortex, P. spirorhis, Physa fontinalis, Limncea stagnalis, L. palustris, 

 and L. peregra, all in more or less abundance. The specimens of L. 

 peregra included its varieties, ovata, acuminata, and oblonga. The Gravel 

 drain and adjoining ditches were next reached, examined throughout its 

 three miles course up to Ackholme, yielding Bythinia Leachii, V. 

 piscinalis, PL albus, P. vortex, P. contortus, P. cornplanatus, Physa 

 fontinalis, Limncea palustris, and L. peregra. From this point, a line 

 was struck for the River Torne, which was crossed by a plank bridge ; 

 here Roebuck found a solitary specimen of Physa hypnorum in a shallow 

 grassy puddle. In the river itself was found L. stagnalis, auricularia, 

 L. peregra, Physa fontinalis, Planorbis contortus and P. carinatus, and 

 Pisidium p>usillum. AtKilham occurred Arion hortensis and the familiar 

 L. agrestis. No further search was made until the woods in Cantley Park 

 were reached ; here careful search amongst dead leaves and the ivy which 

 carpeted the ground rewarded us with Vitrina pellucida, Zonites fulvus, 

 Z. crystallinus, Helix hortensis (j^-oung). Vertigo edentula (somewhat com- 

 monly), a single specimen of V. pusilla, and several Cochlicopa lubrica. 

 The weather was unfavourable for land mollusca, of which very few v/ere 

 observed. 



Badger at Masham. — On the 5th of December last, the Bedale hounds 

 met at the Sleningf ord Park, the seat of John Dalton, Esq. (six miles 

 from Masham, four from Ripon). The covers having been drawn blank, 

 a terrier was sent up an artificial earth which sometimes holds a fox, but 

 it shortly emerged bearing signs of having come off second best in an 

 underground conflict. A second terrier was then procured, and both 

 went up the earth. A confused scuffling was heard, and soon both dogs 

 appeared, having been unable to dislodge the occupant. Spades were 

 now brought into requisition, when, to the astonishment of all present, a 

 fine badger bolted through the pack standing round, and escaped in the 

 surrounding cover, the hounds not owning the scent. It is many years 

 since a badger has been seen in this neighbourhood, though they were 

 formerly plentiful. — Thomas Cakter, Burton House, Masham. 



Redshanks Nesting at Masham. — On the 8th of April, 1883, a pair of 

 redshanks made their appearance in a large marshy field, which seemed to 

 furnish them with an abundant supply of food, for they never left it for 

 any length of time. When disturbed, they would fly round uttering their 



