YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT GORMIRE AND THIRKLEBV. 237 



a vote of thanks to the President, proposed in characteristically 

 felicitous language by the Rev. W. C. Hey, M.A., and seconded by 

 the Rev. Annesley Powys, was unanimously and enthusiastically 

 passed. The President briefly replied, after which Mr. A. Craig- 

 Christie, F.L.S., of Edinburgh, proposed and Dr. Erskine Stuart, of 

 Staincliffe, seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. C. H. F. Bolckow for 

 permission to visit Gormire, to the leaders of parties, and to Mr. W. 

 Gregson for taking charge of the conveyance arrangements. This 

 was unanimously voted, and the reports of sections were then taken. 



For the Vertebrate Section, its secretary, Mr. James Backhouse, jun.,. 

 of York, reported that comparatively few birds of special interest had 

 been observed. In all, 48 species were noted, 32 being residents and 

 16 migrants. A Heron and a pair of Common Sandpipers were 

 observed at Gormire Lake, and a Ring Ousel in the immediate 

 neighbourhood, whilst Swifts in some considerable numbers might 

 be seen flying in and out of holes in the scars above, indicating that 

 they have nested there this year. 



Among mammals nothing of note was observed, except that one 

 or two members had the pleasure of examining a young Badger at 

 Thirsk, which had been caught a day or two before near Kirby 

 Knowle, and is now in the possession of Mr. Lee, of Thirsk. 



Meanwhile, the Decoy which Sir Ralph has recently formed in a 

 plantation near the Park had been visited. Here our host explained 

 the structure and purposes of a decoy, and graphically described the 

 mode of working it ; putting the decoy-dog through those evolutions 

 before and behind the screens which are so strangely fascinating to 

 all ducks, and leads them to their destruction. This decoy and 

 the one at Hornby Castle are now the only ones in use in Yorkshire. 



The president of the Conchological Section (the Rev. W. C. 

 Hey, M.A., of York) reported that in Gormire Lake he had met 

 with only four species, viz. — Planorbis albus (rather fine), Flanorbis 

 7iauttletis, Physa fontinalis (very small), and Pisidiiim pusillimi. In a 

 pond near Gormire Mr. Dennis found Limncea glabra^ L. pereg?-a, 

 and Sphceriuni coriieuni. These are not the usual associates of 

 L. glabra^ which is rarely unaccompanied by Physa hyp7iorii77i in 

 Yorkshire. The long-continued drought has driven land-shells far 

 from the surface. In the wood above Gormire Mr. Hey had 

 met with living specimens of Helix lapicida, H. 7'otH7idata^ Zo7iires 

 alliarius, Pupa U77ibilicata, and Claiisilia rugosa^ and dead specimens 

 of Helix arbustoruni, H horte7isis, and H. hispida. Mr. H. T 

 Soppitt met with H. 7-iifesce7is and Pisidi7i77i fontiiiale. H. aspe7'sa 

 was also taken, by Mr. AY Cash, F.G.S. The only slug seen was 

 Li77iax ag7'estis. 



Aug. 1887. 



