TWO DAYS IN VVENSLEYDALE. 123 



and then taking the road along its southern bank. Soon after leaving 

 Bedale, we reach the narrow terrace of magnesian limestone, which inter- 

 venes between the red sandstone and carboniferous strata. The transition is 

 marked ,by a conspicuous alteration in the general aspect of the vegetation, 

 caused by the appearance, more or less prominently, of such species as 

 Origanum vulgare and Campanula glomerata ; but we could not spare time just 

 then, to endeavour to trace out the change into its primary particulars. 

 Before long, we found ourselves at the village of Thornton Watlas ; and soon 

 afterwards, the hills which encompass the valley on each side rise upon the 

 horizon, and " Penhill's pui'ple top " (to quote the expression supplied by 

 our guide book) begins to assume a prominent position in the view. 

 Crossing down to the bridge at Jerveaux, we noticed Oalium tricorne, Fedia 

 dentata, and Linum usitatissimum, growing in a cornfield, amongst abundance 

 of Euphorbia exigua and the small-flowered fonn of Galeopsis Ladanum. 

 Upon hedgebanks in the same vicinity, as stated in the "Yorkshire Flora" 

 of Baines, occurs Pimpinella magna. Upon the south bank of the river, 

 about a mile above the bridge, are situated the picturesque ruins of a 

 Cistercian priory, founded in 1155, the last abbot of which took a lead- 

 ing part in the ill-fated " Pilgrimage of Grace." Its walls are bound 

 together by ivy, and adorned with Snapdragon, Pellitory, and Wall-flower, 

 interspersed with Hieracium vulgatum and the tall wand-like stems of Lactuca 

 virosa. 



As we advance thoroughly into the dale, hedgei-ows and septal flowering 

 plants yield place, in a great measure, to gray walls of loosely piled stones, 

 clothed with a vestiture of mosses and lichens, thinner or denser according 

 to circumstances. The species which, from their prominence or pre-domi- 

 nance, appeared, within the scope of our observation, to stamp the general 

 fades of the muscology of the district, are Anomodon viticidosum, Tortula 

 ruralis, Grimmia apocarpa, Weissia curvirostra, and Didymodon rigididus. 

 Here, as in several other places, we noticed two intimately allied Orthotricha 

 — anomalum and cupulatum ; and also a considerable quantity of Didymodon 

 Jlexicaidis, of course in a barren state. 



At East Witton, the moorlands rise on each side of the dale to a consider- 

 able elevation; and soon after the Ure is joined by the Cover, a stream 

 which rises near Little Whernside, not far from the head of Nidderdale. 

 Leybuni, a smaU town on the north side of the river, which from its elevated 

 position commands fine views up Wensleydale and Coverdale, w^e did not 

 visit. At Middleham the most renowned attractions are, the ruined walls 

 of a castle— large and massive, but singularly devoid of architectural embel- 

 lishment — formerly the property of the renowned "last of the barons," 

 Warwick the king-maker; and afterwards of Eichard of Gloucester, the 

 third and last monarch of that name who occupied the throne of England. 

 Here, as before at Jerveaux abbey, and afterwards at Bolton castle, the 



