196 



YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT HEBDEN BRIDGE, 



nth JUNE 1904. 



Twenty-five years have elapsed since the Union \-isited Hebden 

 Bridi^-e. so mat the local societies anticipated with pleasure the 

 noveltv of a ^'isit by other naturalists to one of their most 

 popular hunLing--g-rounds ; whilst to the latter the beauty of the 

 scenerv — so close to busy, smoky, manufacturing' towns — 

 came as a gTeat surprise. The neighbourhood has bred not 

 a few naturalists of repute, and records from it abound in the 

 publications of the Union and other scientitic papers and mono- 

 g-raphs.* Hence it was rather the desire to see the locality from 

 which Prof. Phillips had recei\-ed and described so many fossils, 

 where Samuel Gibson 70 years ag'o collected all manner of 

 things — fossils, plants, insects ; where the Stansfields found ferns 

 in endless variety ; where in more recent years the hepatic 

 Juhula Hutchinsice and a host of fungi have been brought to 

 light by the labours of Mr. Jas. Needham, than the expectation 

 of adding to our knowledge of the district, that proved the main 

 attraction of the excursion. 



Happily the day selected was perfect. The general body of 

 naturalists, under the leadership of Messrs. Crossland and 

 Needham, first investigated the woods of the Hebden valley 

 betimes (before the incursion of Saturday afternoon trippers to 

 Hardcastle Crags), and after reaching Walshaw stepping-stones 

 they left the valley to strike across country to Lumb Fall, and 

 then descended Crimsworth Dean. Arrangements were made 

 for another party, led by Messrs. Crump and Sutcliflfe, to start 

 at one o'clock, to suit those who could not reach Hebden Bridge 

 before noon. This proved quite a success, though all those who 

 set out could not be induced to abide by the ofiicial programme 

 and return to Hebden Bridge for tea. Having been led to 

 Crimsworth Dean, where first the geologists and then the main 

 morning party were encountered, there they remained. In all 

 sixty or more took part in the excursions. 



The President (Mr. A. H. Pawson) occupied the chair at the 

 general meeting held at the White Horse Hotel, at which fifteen 

 societies were represented. Reports on the day's work were 

 presented by Messrs. A. White, J. E. Crowther, G. T. Porritt, 

 H. Ostheide, W. B. Crump, W^. Ingham, C. Crossland, and E. 

 Hawkesworth. \\->tes of thanks to the landowners, leaders, 

 and the President were passed. 



* The current issue of the Proc. Malacol. Soc. contains a description and 

 fig-ure of a new fossil shell {Pleuronaufilus pulcher ivom Hebden Bridg-e. 



NaturAlist, 



