22 PHYSIOGRAPHY OF THE EAST RIDING. 



the alg-a the mass of mud, when dried, as it generally is in 

 summer, is rendered into a felt-like carpet over which it is 

 most pleasant to walk, even when it may be cracked by the 

 heat rays of the sun into a multitude of characteristic poly- 

 gonal spaces. From the seeds intercepted in this part arise 

 patches of three distinct species of plant, namely, Scirpns 

 maritimus (sea-side sedge), Glycerin distans (sea flote-grass), 

 and Aster Tripolium (Michaelmas Daisy). The roots and 

 underground stems of these certainly catch and detain much 

 sand and mud, and hence the hummocks that appear dotted 

 all over the mud. 



3. On the edge of the last stretch, near the land, other 

 plants are added, and particularl}' Glycerin marilima and 



JiiHCus Gerardi (Gerard's rush). This seems to be a favourite 

 summer resort for cattle. 



4. Still coming inland, we next stand upon a level strip — 

 salt meadow, it may be not inaptly called. Various grasses 

 and other plants, many with a decidedly fleshy character grow 

 here, e.g.y Glycerin tnnritimn, Festuca rtibrn, Lepfuriis fili- 

 formis^ together with much Thrift (Armerin), Glaux, Arrow 

 grass {Trigiochin)^ Sea Plantain {Plnntago murifima), &c. 

 This stretch, we have noted, is more' preferred by the horse. 



5. On the land side of the embankment is reclaimed and 

 usually well tilled land. 



The drainage of Holderness is almost exclusively the 

 work of the River Hull and its tributaries. This river 

 originates on the edge of the Wolds west of Driffield, near 

 to which the renowned trout streams unite. These include 

 Emswell, Driffield, Southburn Becks, and the Gypsey Race, 

 and further south, on the west bank, the smaller becks of 

 Skerne, VVatton, Arram, Beverley, and Cottingham, also 

 from the Wolds. On the east bank the Hull receives the 

 Old Howe (or Hull?), with its feeder Kelk Beck, Stream 

 Dike, and Lambwath Stream. All of these run through 

 some of the best botanical, as well as the most decidedly 

 picturesque ground in the division, and both botanists and 

 artists would do well to keep this in mind. There are two 

 or three less significant streams that, coming from Holder- 

 ness, reach the Humber directly. Such are Hessle and 

 Humbleton becks ; and both these and the River Hull are 

 tidal, the latter from the city to which it gives the common 

 name up to Top Lock, a distance of about twenty miles. 

 This accounts for a number of estuarine species found on 

 their banks that we are more familiar with on the Humber 

 shore. 



