NOTES AND NEWS. 



63 



We are pleased to learn that our old friend Mr. Thomas Hick, B.A., B.Sc, 

 of Harrogate, has been appointed assistant to Prof. Williamson, in the Owens 

 College, Manchester, in succession to Mr. Marshall Ward. 



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The first winter meeting of the Hull Field Naturalists' Society was held on 

 the 19th November, the president (Mr. N. F. Dobree) in the chair. The reports 

 of the various sections for the summer season were handed in. In ornithology 

 the Grasshopper Warbler was reported as having been as usual heard once or 

 twice. An abnormal number of eggs in the nests of the Blue Tit and Robin was 

 also recorded. A greater number than of late years, of the once numerous 

 Dotterel, were also seen on the Flamborough Heights during the spring migration. 

 Of lepidoptera the same paucity as in other parts of the country was noted. 

 The re-occurrence of Hadena occulta after an interval of five years, and the 

 capture of a specimen of Sphinx convolvuli were the only noteworthy records. 

 In botany, 16 additions had been made to the local list, the most prominent being 

 Villarsia nymphceoides, Hellebores fatidus, Catabrosa aquatica, Hyoscyamus niger, 

 Linaria elatine, and the Wall Rue Fern. The complete list was ordered to be sent 

 to the secretary of the botanical section of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union. Of 

 micro-fungi a satisfactory list was returned, the /Ecidia alone numbering 14, the 

 most noteworthy being : JEcidium pimpinellce var. apii and iridium primula. 



The tenth annual meeting of the Bradford Naturalists' Society was held on the 

 7th December. The report showed that the Society had not only maintained but 

 materially improved upon its past prosperity. Reference was made to the new 

 arrangement by which the various Scientific Societies in the town were affiliated 

 for certain purposes, but without prejudice to their independent existence. Under 

 this arrangement all meetings are to be held in the rooms of the Bradford 

 Philosophical Society. The election of officers for 1886 resulted in the selection 

 of Mr. H. T. Soppitt for president, and Messrs. John Eastwood and E. Robinson 

 as secretaries. In addition to vice-presidents, council, and other officers, the follow- 

 ing recorders were also chosen : — Botany, Messrs. W. West and the president ; 

 Entomology and Vertebrate Zoology, Mr. J. W. Carter ; Invertebrate Zoology, 

 Mr. A. I. Kershaw ; Geology, Mr. Allan ; and Conchology, the president. 



XxX 



The Leeds Naturalists' Club and Scientific Association held its sixteenth 

 annual meeting on the nth December. The principal feature of the report was a 

 reference to the change of domicile to be effected with the new year. The 

 increasing number of engagements for which the rooms of the Leeds Philosophical 

 Society are now in demand having interfered seriously with the convenience of the 

 club, which has met there for the past two years, arrangements have been made 

 with the Leeds Corporation, whereby a room in the Municipal Buildings is placed 

 at the club's disposal. Another feature greatly to the advantage of the club is 

 that henceforth their library will be placed in charge of the Public Librarian, and 

 the books thereby rendered accessible to the members at all times, while the 

 valuable stores of the Public Reference Library will be accessible to the members 

 during the club's meetings. The approaching publication of a Fauna and Flora of 

 the Leeds District was announced, and the report generally was of a satisfactory 

 nature. Afterwards the club proceeded to the election of officers, most of whom 

 were re-elected, the most important change being the election of Mr. J. W. Addy- 

 man, B.A., as joint-secretary with Mr. T. W. Cox. 



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At the 24th annual meeting of the Heckmondwike Naturalists' Society, Jan. 2nd, 

 1886, the following office-bearers were elected : — President, J. A. Erskine 

 Stuart, L.R.C.S. E. ; vice-presidents, Messrs. J. M. Barber and Walter Exley ; 

 secretary, Mr. R. Renton ; librarian, Mr. T. Allatt ; treasurer, Mr. Thos. Exley ; 

 representative to Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, Mr. J. M. Barber. The funds are 

 in good condition, and although the Society is weak in numbers, the excellent 

 library helps to keep it together. It is hoped that the delivery of the Gilchrist 

 Lectures in Heckmondwike during this winter will help the Naturalists' Society, 

 by stirring up an interest in natural science throughout the district. 

 Feb. 1886. 



