■5 1 



LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION 

 AT MABLF.THORPE. 



R. \V. GOULDING, 



Louth ; Assistant Secretary Lincolnshire Naturalists' Unioti. 



The Lincolnshire Naturalists' Union, which was founded at 

 Mablethorpe in June 1893, held its twenty-eig"hth field meeting 

 in the same place on the 30th August 1900. One of the objects 

 of the founders of the Union was the organisation of such 

 meeting's, by means of which it was hoped that isolated workers 

 in various branches of natural history might be brought into 

 friendly co-operation one with another, and this object has been 

 fully attained. 



The following were amongst those present : — Mr. F. M. 

 Burton, F.L.S., F.G. S., and Mr. P. Burton (of Gainsborough) ; 

 Mr. J. S. Sneath and Mr. J. E. Mason (of Lincoln) ; Miss Lane- 

 Claypon (of Tytton Hall) ; Rev. W. H. and Miss Daubney (of 

 Leasingham) ; Rev. E. R. Walker (of Billinghay) ; Rev. Canon 

 Staffurth (of Freiston) ; Rev. J. E. Wallis Loft (of Swallow); 

 Rev. Dr. Foster (of Authorpe) ; Mr. B. Crow, Mr. J. Mawer, 

 Mr. J. Larder, Mr. T. Gelsthorp, Mr. S. Cresswell, Mayor of 

 Louth, Mr. C. S. Carter, and Mr. R. .W. Goulding (of Louth). 



Many interesting things were seen, a propos of some of which 

 many questions difficult to answer were propounded. Why, for 

 instance, it was asked, is the cxalbida variety of the common 

 Garden Snail {Helix aspersa) confined to a comparatively small 

 area on the sand-hills ? What is the cause of the albinism of 

 sundry specimens of Erodium cicutarium ? Does this variety 

 propagate itself? If it does, what is the distinction between 

 a variety and a species ? What are the habits of those curious 

 little creatures called Chelifers or False-Scorpions ? These 

 and similar questions reminded some of those present of the 

 inaugural meeting of the Union, and of the valuable address on 

 the aims of such institutions delivered on that occasion by 

 Professor Miall, F.R.S., of the Yorkshire College, Leeds. 

 Whilst recognising the desirability of knowing the names of 

 various plants and animals found in different localities, he 

 pointed out that a mere know ledge of names was not enough. 

 Animals and plants were chiefly interesting because they were 

 or had been alive, and know ledge of them meant knowledge of 

 their habits and life histories. 1 I think,' said the Professor, 

 4 that the young naturalist can hardly go w rong if he takes 



1901 May 2. 



