1 1 7 
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY. 
E. WILFRED TAYLOR. 
A meeting of the Vertebrate Section, of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union 
was held in the library of the Church Institute, Leeds, on Saturday, 
February 18th. The sectional meeting was preceded by a meeting of 
the Yorkshire Wild Birds and Eggs Protection Acts Committee. 
At the sectional meeting the President, Mr. Rosse Butterfield, paid 
a tribute to the work of the late Mr. W. H. St. Qu intin who, up to a few 
years ago, took an active part in the work of the section and was deeply 
interested in all to do with the protection of Wild Birds. 
A stuffed specimen of the Musk Rat was exhibited and the steps 
now being taken to check its spread in this country were described. 
The President then gave his address entitled, ‘ Human Influence on 
Changes of Vertebrate Fauna ’ and stated that the wild life of an area 
was subject to mutation and that the influence exerted by man, especially 
in densely populated areas, was very marked. This was specially 
true in this country when, during the last century, a substantial increase 
in the human population coincided with the industrial revolution and 
greatly improved means of communication. During this period many 
forms of wild life were exterminated while others increased rapidly. 
In Yorkshire immense stretches of virgin land have been brought under 
cultivation and our green fields are now clothed in alien grasses, the 
majority of our trees have been imported and animals introduced from 
the Continent have multiplied at the expense of our indigenous species. 
These changes commenced when man abandoned his nomadic life, 
settled into communities and domesticated animals. During the Roman 
occupation much was done to improve means of communication, but 
many parts of the country remained isolated until comparatively recent 
times. 
The Normans were fond of the chase and reserved existing forests and 
planted new ones. The native trees were Oak, Ash, Wych Elm, Alder, 
Birch, Yew and a few smaller species. In' those forests the wolf and 
boar long survived and though they have gone, parts of the forests still 
remain. The ancient forests were deciduous in character, but conifers 
were largely planted in the last century and this had considerable influence 
on the avifauna. 
The agricultural developments of the eighteenth century led to the 
drainage of swamps, and few natural sheets of water have survived in 
Yorkshire. The Enclosure Acts, passed in the reign of George III, saw 
the end of the system of small holdings developed under the feudal 
system and the introduction of turnips, clover and potatoes brought 
about further changes. 
Prior to the invention of fire-arms the Hen Harrier and Kite could 
raid the poultry -yard with impunity but the shot gun became an 
effective weapon early in the nineteenth century and the larger birds of 
prey were exterminated in many districts. The introduction of the 
mowing machine also had its effect on the wild life, notably in the cage 
of the Landrail. During this period Starlings, Rooks, Skylarks and 
some other species greatly increased their numbers, profiting by the 
cultivation of the land. 
The preservation of feathered game upset the natural balance between 
the smaller birds and the birds of prey, while the fashion for wearing the 
feathers of birds in hats led to the destruction of certain species. The 
first Act of Parliament to protect wild birds was passed in 1869 and this 
was followed by further measures- and by much voluntary work in which 
the Union had participated. 
The construction of sewage works and reservoirs, the formation of 
lakes by subsidence and the use of oil at sea have all had their effects 
on the wild life and other less understood factors have operated to the 
advantage of some species and the disadvantage of others. 
In conclusion, the lecturer stated that man had brought about great 
1 933 May 1 
