294 Sheppard : Yorkshire Naturalists at North Grimston. 



work at, but also provide the varying" soils and diversity of 

 natural features so welcome alike to the botanists, entomologists, 

 and conchologists. The effect of the different subsoils upon the 

 vegetation was most marked, and could readily be detected by 

 those who had not the trained eye of the botanist. 



Lord Middleton's well-kept park and gardens were also 

 within the field of operations, and the botanists had the pleasure 

 of seeing the beautiful fruit trees and flowers, and also passed 

 through an enormous number of glass houses, where all manner 

 of luxuriant exotic plants flourished. The pond near the Hall 

 was stocked with beautifully-marked Loch Leven trout, some of 

 which were examined, thanks to the efforts of an angler, who 

 was ably assisted in the operation of ' landing ' his catches by 

 a large retriever dog. 



The members conducted their investigations in three parties; 

 the geological section, which commenced operations at Burdale 

 Station, included Messrs. P. F. Kendall, F.G.S., J. W. Stather, 

 F. G. S. , E. Hawkesworth, and the senior Secretary of the section ; 

 the botanists, including Messrs. M. B. Slater, F.L.S., T. W. 

 Woodhead, F.L. S., C. Waterfall, and J. F. Robinson started 

 at North Grimston Station, as did also the conchologists and 

 ornithologists, including Mr. W. Denison Roebuck, F.L.S., 

 Rev. E. P. Blackburn, Mr. Kenneth MacLean, and Mr. A. 

 White, F.Z.S. Mr. G. T. Porritt, F.L.S., represented the 

 entomologists. 



The different parties had a very profitable time, judging from 

 the reports given at the meeting on the close of the day's excur- 

 sion. For Vertebrate Zoology, Mr. Kenneth MacLean, Secretary 

 of the section, has provided the following notes : — The district 

 is truly an interesting one to naturalists of all branches, and 

 particularly so to those belonging to the vertebrate section. 

 Although no very great rarity was seen, several of the birds 

 observed might be considered fairly scarce, and were certainly 

 very interesting. For instance, the Green Woodpecker was 

 there, and its sharp beak had left marks on many of the trees. 

 Several of its nesting-holes were also seen. One of these holes 

 had been taken possession of by Starlings, a not infrequent 

 occurrence. The Woodpeckers are said to use the same nesting- 

 holes year after year, but in nine cases out of ten Mr. MacLean has 

 noticed the holes appropriated by Starlings after the first year's 

 use. Starlings are known to be guilty of usurping not only the 

 nesting-holes of Woodpeckers, but those of Swifts, Sparrows, 

 Redstarts, etc. ; in many cases actually turning out the rightful 



Naturalist, 



