278 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT MARKET WEIGHTON. 



Upon the proposition of the Rev. E. P. Knubley, M.A., seconded 

 by Mr. S. A. Adamson, F.G.S., and supported by the Chairman, the 

 Rev. W. C. Hey, M.A., Messrs. S. Chadwick and M. B. Slater, it was 

 unanimously resolved that the Secretary be requested to enrol the 

 Union as a member of the International Geological Congress, by 

 a subscription of los., which will secure the publications of the 

 Congress, and also to make a donation of two guineas to the 

 Guarantee Fund. Mr. Knubley had previously described the objects 

 of the Congress, which meets every three years, and is shortly to 

 hold a meeting in London, after the conclusion of which several 

 geological excursions will be made, Yorkshire being honoured with 

 two, one in the Craven district, the other along the Yorkshire coast 

 from Saltburn to Speeton. 



Mr. Adamson reported upon the continued improvement and 

 favourable condition of the secretary, Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, 

 F.L.S., and was requested to convey the sympathy of the members 

 to him. 



The sectional reports were then presented. 



For the Vertebrate Zoology Section, which was represented by all 

 its sectional officers, Mr. J. Backhouse, jun., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., York, 

 reported that only thirty-three species of birds had been met with, 

 i.e. twenty-five residents and eight migrants. The small number of 

 the latter is probably accounted for by the fact that a large number 

 of our migrating birds are now moving towards the sea-coast, pre- 

 paratory to their long southern voyage. It is interesting to notice, 

 on referring to last season's reports, that on August 27th, at Welton 

 (Brough), a few miles further south, three migrants only were observed, 

 notwithstanding the exceptional fineness and w^armth of the season. 

 A sharp look-out was kept during the day, but without avail, for 

 Pallas' Sand-Grouse, which species has been observed this summer 

 in fair numbers on the lowland in the vicinity of Market Weighton. 



The chairman, Rev. E. M. Cole, remarked that the Norfolk Plover 

 has been found nesting of recent years on the wolds to his knowledge. 

 In York Museum is a bird of this species, in immature dress, which 

 was killed at or near KipUngcotes a few years ago, and must have 

 been reared in the neighbourhood. 



For the Conchological Section, the Rev. W. C. Hey, M.A., 

 York, president of the section, reported that all the species of 

 mollusca observed were terrestrial. Helix cantiana was very abun- 

 dant in hedge-banks. H. aspersa and H. nemoralis in a quarry at 

 Sancton. H. caperata under chalk, with H. hispida. A small form 

 of Succinea piitris was the only other shell collected. Among the 

 specimens of H. caperata were some examples of the variety or?iata. 



Naturalist, 



