YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT 179 
KNARESBOROUGH. 
(PLATES XVII. AXD XVIII.). 
A distinct success was the Easter week-end gathering (April 
nth to 13th) of the members of the Yorkshire Naturalists’ 
Union at the old-world town of Knaresborough, whose history 
and romance are so happily blended. 
The beauty of Springtime was everywhere in evidence, as 
voiced by William Morris : — - 
“ Fair now is the Springtime, now earth lies beholding 
With the eyes of a lover, the face of the sun ; 
Long lasteth the daylight, and hope is unfolding 
The green-growing acres with increase begun.” 
The charming tracts of open country, and the well wooded 
slopes by each side of the glorious Nidd, to which access had 
been freely given, will ever remain a pleasant memory. It 
was indeed a spot where retreat could be found from the 
rough world’s way, and the situation of the headquarters, the 
High Bridge Hotel, left nothing to be desired. 
The President of the Union, Mr. Thomas Sheppard, was 
in attendance throughout the week-end, and the members 
also gave a hearty welcome to Mr. J. F. X. King, of Glasgow, 
the well-known expert on Neuroptera and Trichoptera. 
On Saturday morning an early start was made down the 
river Nidd, across the fields to Plumpton, where the weathered 
rocks, and lake, provided much of interest to all sections. 
The return journey encompassed Birkham Wood, Grimbald’s 
Crag, and Abbey Plain. The physical features were one of the 
dominating factors of this homeward walk, while it was also 
rich botanically. 
To what base uses the remains of the Abbey have been 
put is evidenced by the numerous mouldings, window tracery, 
and fragments of carved stones built into the walls of the out- 
buildings of adjacent farms, and the boundary walls also show 
abundant traces of old dressed stone. 
The Scriven Estate received investigation by the botanists 
and conchologists. While this party was having lunch, the 
fearlessness displayed by a Robin created much comment. 
The bird first perched on the bough of a hawthorn, immediately 
behind a lady who was eating a piece of sweet cake. The bird 
made a sudden dash at the cake, but missed. It was not dis- 
mayed, for on the cake being held outward at arm’s length, 
it very cleverly balanced itself over the cake, and succeeded 
in breaking off a large piece, with which it flew away. 
On Monday a considerably augmented party, under the 
capable leadership of Mr. Riley Fortune, commenced the in- 
vestigation of the picturesque woods along the banks of the 
river Nidd, proceeding as far as Nidd Bridge, from whence 
return was made along the opposite bank. 
19X4 June 1. 
