^4 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT HATFIELD CHACE. 



some so-called erratic boulders at Lindholme, or went two miles 

 lurther to examine a warp pit — a large sheet of water covering about 

 sixteen acres. The party of four struck due south across a vast 

 purple-clad heath, now and again stopping to collect a rare plant, 

 then deviating a little to the left to see something unusual that one 

 of them had just detected in the insect way, or winding more to the 

 left still to gather some bright-coloured fungi. After walking for about 

 an hour and a half in this fashion, it began to be monotonous, and 

 also swampy. What puzzled them was the south extremity of the 

 moor seemed to be as far off as ever ; they were evidently lost. Under 

 the circumstances it was thought advisable to strike out for a 

 village that lay to the right, which they did. A little further and on 

 the edge of the moor, was observed a woman gathering blackberries, 

 from whom was learned, to their astonishment, that the village was 

 Wroot, in Lincolnshire, and several miles from Hatfield. A trap 

 was sought up, and in a few minutes the party were driving at a rapid 

 rate back to Yorkshire. They alighted in a good district, a mile 

 or two over the border, and in a capital collecting ground. Several 

 interesting objects were dredged up from the large drains, and no 

 few plants of various kinds were collected from the adjoining culti- 

 vated fields. After all the misadventures of the party, however, they 

 were amply compensaJted later on by some good finds. It was 

 not long before the Union Jack was sighted at Hatfield, and it 

 was soon found that all the dust-stained naturalists had assembled, 

 and were ready for the excellent repast, which was duly served 

 by the host. After tea sectional meetings were held, at which reports 

 were drawn up of the work done during the day. The general 

 meeting was held in the Parochial Meeting Room, within the vicarage 

 grounds, kindly lent for the occasion by the Vicar, who had beautified 

 the room by several cases of stuffed birds and animals captured in 

 the district, and including two Polecats, Black Game (that, doubtless, 

 had been naturalised in that district), and Stockdove. The chair 

 was occupied by Dr. Erskine-Stuart, of Stainclifi'e. On calling the roll 

 of Societies, it was found that the members present represented the 

 following twelve Societies : Bradford (two Societies), Leeds (four), 

 Heckmondwike, York, Dewsbury, Goole, Hull, and Doncaster. 

 Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh, of Grainsby Hall, Lincolnshire, was duly 

 elected a Member of the Union. A vote of thanks was accorded 

 Mr. C. Wright, the Hon. Mrs. Meynell-Ingram, and' Mr. A. L Wells 

 for allowing the members to visit their estates; to Messrs. Batty, Kirk, 

 and Hasselby for acting as guides ; and to the Vicar for the use of 

 the Parochial Meeting Room. The Vicar, in responding to the vote, 

 made some observations on his exhibits. 



Naturalist, 



