YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS IN LOWER WENSLEVDALE. 



177 



which once descended Wensleydale. The geologists felt, on parting, 

 that the examination of the sections alluded to, and the instruction 

 they had received on the geology of Wensleydale from so experienced 

 a geologist as Mr. Horne, had added largely to their practical know- 

 ledge, and constituted the day's work most valuable. 



For the Botanical Section the following report was given by Mr. 

 M. B. Slater, of Malton, who was the only officer of the Section 

 present : — A short ramble of four hours' duration is only sufficient 

 to give a glimpse of the fine and extensive district of Wensleydale. 

 The ' Flora of Wensleydale,' by Mr. J. Percival, given in the May 

 number of The Naturalist^ includes a large list of plants that have 

 been found growing in the district. At this early season of the year 

 comparatively few are yet in flower. About eighty plants were seen 

 during the excursion, many of them of general distribution, and all 

 enumerated in Mr. PercivaFs list. The following include the rarer 

 plants seen : — Cardamine amara^ Codilearia officinalis^ Viola liitea 

 (very abundant in some of the high pastures), Geraiiiiuii lucidiun 

 {plentiful on old walls, etc.), Saxifraga gra?inlata (not uncommon in the 

 high pastures above the Scar), Priinus padus^Myrrhis odoi'ata^ Adoxa 

 inoschatellina^ Parietaria diffusa^ Orchis mascula. (the only species 

 of this group seen), Saxifraga hypnoides^ and Lathrcca squamaria. 



For the A^ertebrate Section, its senior secretary, Mr. James 

 Backhouse, jun., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., reported that, owing to the 

 exceptionally fine weather, those belonging to the Vertebrate Section 

 had capital opportunities of observing birds, about forty-six species 

 in all being noted during the day. The zoological programme, care- 

 fully prepared by Mr. Carter, of Masham, indicates a rich avi-fauna 

 for Wensleydale generally, and the species noted during the day 

 show that the Leyburn district is a rich corner for research. Among 

 the most satisfactory discoveries of the day must be mentioned the 

 nesting-place of the Black-Headed Gull {Larus ridibinidus), at least 

 one pair of which were seen, but no nest found. In the same place, 

 too, four pairs of Redshanks evidently had eggs or young, and a 

 Curlew's nest was noticed hard by, containing two eggs. Some of 

 tlie migratory species proved very common (notably the Willow 

 Warbler), whilst others again appeared scarce, but possibly the late 

 season may account for it in measure. The Redstart was seen nesting, 

 and all three Wagtails noted. Three or four i^eewits' nests repaid the 

 careful watchfulness of our collectors, all with eggs, most of which 

 were fresh. 



The Section for Micro-Zoology and Mi(TO-Botany was not 

 represented, its secretary, Mr. J. M. Kirk, of Doncaster, being 

 absent, from ill-health. 



June 1888. 



