2 7? YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT SEDBERGH. 



research : our time being limited little more \vas done than to admire 

 the wild grandeur of the scenery and return to Sedbergh. The main 

 bod}* of the members elected to accompany the Rev, W. Thompson, 

 under whose guidance was visited Cautle}' Spout and the Rawthey 

 Valley, returning over the Howgill Fells. Two conchologists, 

 Messrs. Roebuck and Baker Hudson, deterred by the barrenness of 

 the Silurian grits, proceeded due east, and spent the day to good 

 purpose among the mountain hmestones of the valley of the Clough 

 and of Dovecote Gill, where the vicinity of limekiln debris afforded 

 numerous captures. Dovecote Gill contains some * caves ' — more 

 correctly speaking huge chasms — open at both ends and in several 

 parts of the roof — down which ran the stream. 



All parties assembled to a good tea provided at the White Hart 

 Hotel by ]SIr. S. W. Walton, a brother-in-law of the famous Tod- 

 morden bryologist, John Nowell. Time did not admit of the 

 holding of Sectional meetings, and what fomial business there was, 

 had to be transacted over the tea-table at the conclusion of the meal. 



The chair was occupied by Mr. F. Arnold Lees, Heckmondwike, 

 president of the Botanical Section. The minutes were taken as 

 read, after which the Leyburn Literary and Scientific Society was 

 unanimously admitted into the L^nion. The unanimous election of 

 two new members — Mr. Abel Chapman, ]\LB.O.L'., of Roker, near 

 Sunderland, and Mr. John Farrah, of Harrogate — followed. The 

 Rev. G. Crewdson then moved, Mr. W. Cash, F.G.S., of Halifax, 

 seconded, and the meeting unanimously voted, the best thanks of the 

 L^nion to the Rev. W. Thompson, Mr. John Handley, and Mr. J. W. 

 Davis for their services as leaders of parties. The little time which 

 remained not allowing of the regular series of sectional reports 

 being given, was utilized by the leaders of parties giving a brief 

 report of what had been seen ; but before this was done, Mr. Joseph 

 Severs, the honorary secretary of the Kendal Society, in a brief and 

 appropriate speech, expressed the thanks of his fellow- members, and 

 their good-wishes to their Yorkshire friends. 



It ha-ving been arranged that the sectional reports be sent to 

 the L^nion secretaries, we give them here. 



For the Vertebrate Section the report was furnished by Mr. James 

 Backhouse, jun., M.B.O.U., secretar}' of the section, who stated that 

 judging from the hst of birds which was prepared for the excursion pro- 

 gramme, Sedbergh must be a rich corner ornithologically, but though 

 observers were numerous and the day was favourable, the list of species 

 actually obser^'ed is but small. Three Ravens and a small party of 

 Twites were recorded as having been obser^-ed on one of the high 

 fells by Mr. Watson, of Kendal. The former still breeds ever}- year 



Naturalist^ 



