236 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT GORMIRE AND THIRKLEBY. 



the host, and in doing so referred to his attainments as a naturalist 

 and sportsman, and also to his descent from Sir Thomas Frankland, 

 distinguished for his botanical knowledge about the close of last 

 century. 



The President, in reply, said it had afforded him the greatest 

 pleasure to see the members of the Union there that day, and to take 

 part in the instructive and delightful morning which they had had. 

 He considered that observation and useful record were to the 

 naturalist far more than mere talk. The field naturalists' part of 

 natural history was the practical foundation of all natural science. 

 The scientific part came afterwards, but the one could not exist 

 without the other, and they were mutually helpful to one another. 

 The outdoor part was the pleasantest, especially in such glorious 

 weather as they had had that day. Nothing could be more instruc- 

 tive and enjoyable than the remarkable ramble they had had in that 

 beautifully wild country round Gormire. He had never seen Gormire 

 look more beautiful. Naturalists admired scenery as much as those 

 who raved so much about it, but they recognised the fact that that 

 admiration was not of much use unless they looked below the surface. 

 They wanted to know what it consisted of — whether in regard to 

 animals, plants, geological formations, or insect-life. They found in 

 that scenery, every rock, every bird, every fish, every plant, every 

 animal — in fact, everything animate or inanimate — had a history of 

 its own, about which volumes had been written, and more might be 

 with advantage. He honestly pitied the man who never looked 

 below the surface, and who did not try to read the lessons of nature 

 which lay at his feet. 



After the conclusion of the sectional meetings, which were 

 appropriately and pleasantly held under the shadow of some of the 

 noblest trees in the park, the general meeting was held, with the 

 President in the chair. The minutes having been duly passed, eight 

 new members were elected, in the persons of Mr. Abel Chapman, 

 M.B.O.U., of Silksworth Hall, Sunderland, Mr. C. B. Crawshaw, of 

 Dewsbury, Mrs. Emmet, of Boston Spa, Mr. John Kmg, of Leeds, 

 Mr. A. G. More, F.L.S., F.R.S.E., M.R.I.A., the eminent curator of 

 the Museum of Science and Art at Dublin, the Rev. Annesley 

 Powys, M. A., vicar of Meanwood, Mr. T. F. Ward, of Middlesbrough, 

 secretary of the Cleveland Naturalists' Club, and Dr. T. Mitchell 

 Wilson, of Doncaster. Two Societies were next admitted into the 

 Union by a unanimous vote, on the motion of Mr. W. N. Cheesman, 

 seconded by Mr. T. F. Ward ; these were the Middlesbrough Junior 

 Naturalists' Club and the Brighouse Friends' Schools Botanical 

 Society. The Rev. W. Fowler, M.A., then assumed the chair while 



Naturalist, 



