187 
VERTEBRATE REMAINS FROM THE PEAT OF 
YORKSHIRE: NEW RECORDS. 
T. SHEPPARD, M.SC. , F.G.S. 
On account of their friable nature, remains of birds are very 
rare in the peat deposits of East Yorkshire, and so far the only 
local record we appear to have is of a skull of a Wild Duck 
(Anas boscas L.), found in the peat at Withernsea ; the speci- 
men now being in the Hull Museum. It was recorded in the 
Remains of Birds from Yorkshire Peat. 
Transactions of the Hull Scientific and Field Naturalists’ Club 
for 1899 (fig. 3). 
Many years ago I found the humerus of a bird, which I 
thought was also duck, in the peat exposed at low tide near 
the site of the pier at Withernsea, and placed it in the Museum. 
In view of recent interest being taken in remains from the peat, 
I submitted it to Mr. E. T. Newton, F.R.S., to whom we have 
been frequently indebted for help in this way. He states that 
the bone is the humerus of a Kite (fig. 9), and adds that he 
is not aware that the species has ever been recognized as a 
British fossil previously, though the bird was, until recent 
years, very common in this country. 
Through the kindness of Mr. Cecil W. Mason, I have had 
an opportunity of seeing some bones from the peat at Hornsea 
and Skipsea, one of which appears to be the skull of a duck, 
1922 June 1 
