32 ROUND THE YEAR 



helpless. In the following season it was observed by 

 the French fishermen that nearly all the large Shrimps 

 had been killed, and that only young and small ones 

 could be fished. The mortality extended to consider- 

 able depths (15-25 metres). It was observed that 

 animals which are usually found only in water of fair 

 depth came close to shore during the frost. 1 



There is a general impression that injurious insects 

 are kept in check by severe winters, but I know of no 

 direct and extensive evidence in support of the view. 

 The hard winter of 1894-5 was followed by a season 

 in which insects, whether injurious or not, showed no 

 diminution of numbers. 2 



UNDER THE CRAGS. 



I have so much dry information to pour out that I 

 will venture to waste a page or two upon my own 

 surroundings. The chapter will be short, and will 

 contain little useful matter. 



We live on a steep slope which runs down from' 

 Rumbalds Moor to the Wharfe. Here the river flows 

 from west to east, and we are on the southern bank, 

 facing due north. The skyline behind the house is 

 rugged with cliffs and fallen blocks of sandstone, 

 among which are the locally famous Cow and Calf. 

 Below these is a fringe of moor, overgrown with 

 heather, crowberry and moss. Then comes a narrow 

 strip of pasture, on the low side of which is our 

 garden fence. Below us is a rolling mass of grassy 



1 Fauvel Comptes Rendus, CXXI. pp. 427-429 (1895). 



2 Miss Ormerod's Report on Injurious Insects for 1895. 



