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THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION 

 AT HATFIELD CHACE. 



In glorious weather the Yorkshire NaturaHsts' Union held their last 

 excursion for 1887 on September 21st, at Hatfield. It was 

 originally intended that the September meeting should take the form 

 of a 'fungus foray,' but after the extraordinarily dry summer, and 

 after consulting an eminent mycologist, it was anticipated that fungi 

 would be unusually scarce objects this autumn, and the executive 

 deemed it advisable at the last possible moment to once more post- 

 pone the fungus hunt for another year, and substitute for it an 

 ordinary excursion. Hatfield, in the extreme south-west of the West 

 Priding, was the spot selected, and the district marked out for investi- 

 gation was that broad expanse of moorland, nine square miles in 

 extent, known as Hatfield Chace. The choice was a happy one, for 

 not only was the hunting-ground unlimited in extent, but practically 

 the district hitherto had been unexplored. Shortly before nine o'clock 

 the bulk of the naturalists alighted at Stainforth Station, and wended 

 their way to the village of Hatfield, about one mile distant. Hatfield 

 contains a fine church, and is a real type of a Yorkshire village. In 

 due time the party arrived at the village, and caused no little conster- 

 nation among the inhabitants, who gazed in curiosity at the visitors 

 as they marched through with their vasculums, bags, hammers, and 

 other paraphernalia. It was evident that something unusual was 

 expected, for at the meeting-place — the Blue Bell — was suspended 

 from the uppermost window an immense ' Union Jack,' a true indi- 

 cation that meant business. A small party intent upon botany, 

 conchology, and ornithology, set out immediately, and hastily 

 hurried along country roads and lanes to the ' Chace,' where collect- 

 ing commenced in good earnest. The others, after being augmented, 

 followed later, under the leadership of Mr. T. J. Hasselby, of 

 Doncaster. A few under the guidance of jNIr. J. M. Kirk, also of 

 Doncaster, more leisurely made their way to some brick-ponds a 

 short distance away, where they succeeded in fishing up some of the 

 most magnificent microscopic objects of the lower orders of animal 

 and plant life. After awhile two of the parties came in contact with 

 each other near to Lindholme Hall, and, as they lunched, discussed 

 what had been collected or observed. One had all but trod on a 

 viper, and filled his box with fungi of various sizes and kinds. 

 Another had got a number of rare plants and large caterpillars. 

 Some had got nothing, and it was thought desirable that the southern 

 portion of the Chace and the banks of the river Torne should he 

 examined, from thence to return by way of the large drains to HatfieK!. 

 A party of four undertook this task. The remainder either visited 



March 1888. 



