190 



YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION AT ASKERN. 



Anodonta cyguea, numerous in Campsall Lake; and numerous examples 'of 

 Limtuza staghalis and Planorbis corneus, collected by Mr. S. H. Bennett, of 

 Rotherham. The 6 slugs were Avion ater, scarce, a few at Burghwallis ; A. 

 hortensis and A. bourguignali, a few at Burghwallis and Campsall ; Limax 

 viaximus, one at Burghwallis ; L. /avis, one on the edge of Campsall Lake ; and 

 L. agreslis, common everywhere. Of the 16 land shells there were a few examples 

 of Sticcinea putris in Burghwallis Woods and a few of S. elegans at Campsall Park ; 

 a few Vitrina pellucida at Burghwallis, &c; a few Zonites cellarius and Z. nitidulus 

 in Campsall Park, and one Z. crystalliniis in Burghwallis Wood ; one Helix aspcrsa 

 at Campsall Village ; several H. nemoralis at Campsall and Burghwallis ; two or 

 three H. cantiaua collected by Mr. Rushforth, of Horbury ; plenty of H. hispida 

 and H. rotundata in Campsall and Burghwallis Woods, and a single example of 

 the var. alba of the latter ; a single Bidimits obscurus in Campsall Park ; a single 

 / upa iwibilicata found by Mr. Rushforth ; numerous specimens of Clausilia rugosa 

 and a few of Cochhcopa lubrica at both Campsall and Burghwallis ; and a single 

 example of Carychinm minimum in Burghwallis Woods. 



The Entomological section was represented by its secretaries, Mr. G. C. 

 Dennis, York, and Mr. E. B. Wrigglesworth, Wakefield, who reported one larva 

 which Mr. Dennis recognised as Leucania imptcra. The almost too-abundant 

 rainfall had prevented this section from carrying out its work. The season had 

 opened with a fair prospect, but this day the members of the section were com- 

 pelled in consequence of the excessive moisture to abandon the woods altogether, 

 and their limited examination of the immediate locality of Askern between the 

 showers was almost nil. 



For the Botanical section its president, the Rev. Wm. Fowler, M.A., reported 

 that owing to the unfavourable state of the weather and the lateness of the season 

 comparatively few plants were observed (only 89 in all, and of these nearly all 

 were common ones). The best, perhaps, were Geurn intermedium and Veronica 

 montana. A few Morells {Morchella esculenta) were found, but no Truffles, 

 though the latter are known to occur both at Owston and Burghwallis. In a wood 

 at the last-named place Plnteus chrysophoeus and other more common Fungi were 

 observed. The report on mosses was given by Mr. M. B. Slater, of Malton, 

 Cryptogamic secretary to the section, and will be printed next month. 



For the Geological section Mr. S. A. Adamson, F.G.S., Leeds, one of its secre- 

 taries, reported that from the inclement weather, and perhaps still more from an un- 

 accountable reluctance on the part of many geologists to investigate the Permian 

 strata, there was but a meagre attendance of the knights of the hammer. The 

 ground was traversed from Askern to Campsall without any object of geological 

 interest being noted, when on arrival at the Hall, Mr. Bacon Frank most kindly 

 gave minute particulars where several quarries might be visited. The way was 

 now taken in the direction of Barnsdale, where on the roadside two quarries 

 excavated in the Lower Magnesian Limestone were visited. These unfortunately 

 were not newly made nor in work, therefore the sections were much weathered and 

 in many parts overgrown by vegetation. Enough could be seen, however, of the 

 variable character and stratification of the limestone, flaggy in some places, thick 

 and irregularly bedded in others. The characteristic cavities in this limestone, so 

 beautifully lined with calc-spar were often seen, but no fossils were obtained, time 

 not permitting of a lengthened search. Taking the road from Barnsdale to 

 Skelbrooke a detour was made to Burghwallis, where an opportunity was given of 

 noticing the extreme durability of this limestone for building purposes when 

 favourable circumstances offer. In the outer walls of this venerable church good 

 specimens of herring-bone masonry are seen, which indicate a very high antiquity, 

 still the angles of the magnesian limestone are comparatively sharp after the lapse 

 of so many centuries. Near Sutton a quarry in the Upper Magnesian Limestone 

 was visited, but this, too, from being long out of use, proved unproductive of 

 practical results. 



For the newly-formed section for Micro-Zoology and Botany both its secretaries, 



Mr. W. Barwell Turner, F.C.S., F.R.M.S., Leeds, and Mr. J. M. Kirk, 



Doncaster, spoke, but, as might well be anticipated, it was not possible for them to 



give any idea of the results achieved in their department, inasmuch as this could 



not be done till after careful study of their gatherings at home. A vote of thanks 



to the chairman concluded the business. — W.D.R r; r 



Naturalist, 



