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THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION" 

 AT FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 



Those -members of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union who travelled from Leeds 

 to Hull by the 2.14 a.m. mail train on Whit -Monday, the 14th of June, judging 

 from the sunrise which they witnessed, anticipated a fine, not to say broiling day. 

 Their expectations were not, however, realized, and about mid-day and throughout 

 the afternoon storms of wind and rain marred to some extent the success of the 

 excursion, so far as its thorough and complete enjoyment was concerned. The 

 Union were particularly fortunate in the kindness which they experienced at the 

 hands of the resident land-owners, Mrs. Cottrell-Dormer and the Rev. Yarburgh 

 Lloyd Greame, who granted full leave to members to visit every part of their 

 extensive properties, and added the offer of further hospitalities which the day's 

 arrangements prevented the acceptance of. Three main lines of routes were 

 planned, and duly carried out. A couple of waggonettes conveyed members to 

 the lighthouses, where Mr. William Crowe, junr., of Flamborough, had made 

 preparations to enable them to witness the cliff-climbing, having had ropes fixed 

 along the cliffs to enable visitors to station themselves at the very cliff edge, and 

 so better observe the climbers. Facilities, of which one member availed himself 

 several times, were given for practical experience of the cliff-climbing. Thanks to 

 Mr. Crowe's kindness the members of this party passed an enjoyable morning. 

 Others of a different turn of mind devoted the day to a minute and leisurely 

 investigation of the Dane's Dyke, and the geologists, more prone to active and 

 prolonged exertions, ' braced themselves up for a quiet, gentle amble ' which 

 extended to fourteen miles, finishing up with a run to catch the .3.15 train at 

 Bempton station. All parties converged by four o'clock on the North Shore 

 Refreshment Pavilion, where an admirably provided tea awaited them, and where 

 the meetings were afterwards held. 



The chair of the general meeting was occupied — in the absence of the president 

 — by the Rev. W. C. Hey, M.A., of York, a vice-president. There were about 

 sixty or seventy members present, representing thirteen societies, viz.: — Beverley, 

 Bradford (2), Dewsbury, Doncaster, Driffield, Hull, Leeds (3), Malton, Rother- 

 ham, and York. The minutes having been taken as read, Messrs. Chas. 

 Brownridge, F.G.S., Horsforth, Jesse Oliver, Leeds, • — . Thirkettle, Leeds, and 

 the Rev. W. Thompson, M.A., J. P., Guldrey Lodge, Sedbergh, were elected 

 members. The Cleveland Naturalists' Field Club (Middlesbrough, 62 members), 

 of which several members were present, and whose accession will prove a source 

 of increased strength to the Union, was unanimously admitted into union. 

 Thanks were then voted to Mrs. Dormer and the Rev. Y. L. Greame, to the Rev. 

 E. M. Cole and Messrs. G. W. Lamplugh and W. Crowe, for the benefits received 

 at their hands, after which the sectional reports were given. 



For the Vertebrate section its secretary, Mr. James Backhouse, junr., 

 M.B.O. U., York, reported that 25 residents and 12 summer visitants among the 

 birds had been noted, as follows: — Residents: Thrush, Blackbird, Missel Thrush 

 (nesting), Robin, Rook, House Sparrow (nesting), Skylark, Greenfinch, Yellow 

 Bunting, Jackdaw, Common Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Starling, Hedge Sparrow, 

 Wren, Rock Pipit, Rock Dove (nesting), Herring Gull, Kittiwake (nesting), Puffin 

 (nesting), Razorbill (nesting), Guillemot (nesting), Hooded Crow, Common Gull, 

 Pied Wagtail (nesting). Migrants : Willow Wren, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Swallow, 

 Martin, Swift, Sand Martin, Spotted Flycatcher, Sedge Warbler, Tree Pipit, 

 Cuckoo, Corncrake. In other departments the only species reported were the 

 Smooth Newt and the Great Warty Newt, both at Dane's Dyke. 



For the Conchological section, its president, Rev. W. C. Hey, M.A., of York, 

 reported. He and the senior secretary of the section, Mr. J. D. Butterell, with 

 Mr. H. T. Soppitt, of Bradford, and others had investigated the neighbourhood 

 of Bridlington and Dane's Dyke. The total number of species observed was 31, 

 including ten water shells, six slugs, and fifteen land shells. The list is as follows : 

 — Sphcerinm lacustre (a remarkable variety), Pisidhtm pnsilhim, P. nitidum, P. 

 fontinale, Limncea peregra, L. palustris, L. truncatulus, and Planorbis nautileus 

 from a pond near Dane's Dyke House ; P. complanatus and Physa fontinalis from 

 a pond by the railway at Bridlington ; Arion ater and v. albolateralis, A . hortensi s 



Naturalist 



