Yorkshire Naturalists at South Cave. 215 



In the afternoon another of the chalk dale? — Wecdlcy Springs — was 

 examined, and subsequently a general meeting for the comparison of 

 results was held at the Bull Inn, South Cave, under the presidency of 

 Mr. Booth. A score of new members was elected. 



Geology. — Mr. W. S. Bisat sends the following notes on the geological 

 section examined at North Ferriby and Melton on the Saturday : — 



The party assembled at Ferriby Station, and walking to the foreshore, 

 examined the exposures of the Red Cliff moraine. This section was de- 

 scribed many years ago by Mr. J. W. Stather (Proc. Yorks. Geo!. Soc, 

 Vol. XIII., pt. 2, pp. 210-220), but lately the erosion of coast defences 

 has shewn that the boulder clay extends eastward as far as Ferriby 

 landing. Attention was drawn to the effect of the descent of root fibres 

 into the black laminated clays. These clays are washed by spring 

 tides, and interesting differential erosion takes place. Each root fibre 

 is surrounded by a small cylinder of altered clay, and this cylinder is 

 more resistent than the untapped clay surrounding it, and consequently 

 stands out as a small pinnacle. The effect is enhanced by the colour, 

 which is changed from black to yellow. The similarity to marks in 

 estuarine rocks of earlier ages was noted . 



Interesting sections in present-day Humber warps were seen, and there 

 was a- marked scarcity, during the visit, of Norwegian rocks from the 

 boulder -clays. 



A walk through Long Plantation brought the party to the new quarries 

 at Melton Bottoms, where, by the kind permission of the Humber Portland 

 Cement Co., Ltd., examination was made of the various sections and 

 spoil tips. 



Sections in the Middle Chalk and Lower Chalk were examined, the 

 beds near the level of the Black Band proving very fossiliferous. A 

 spoil tip of Red Chalk yielded the three characteristic belemnites, and 

 also specimens of the underlying Carstone, with polished pebbles. 



A large tip of sub -Cretaceous clays, which has yielded fossils of 

 Corallian age, was examined ; but the clays were too weathered to enable 

 anything more than fragmentary specimens of ammonites, belemnites, 

 Qstreas and small gasteropods to be obtained. 



Flowering Plants. — Observations of the flowering plants were made 

 by Messrs. H. E. Wroot, J. F. Musham and others. Of chief interest was 

 the abundance of early spring flowers to be seen in all parts of the district. 

 These reflected clearly the exceptional mildness of the weeks preceding 

 Easter. In plantations the Wood Anemone, Blue Apennine Anemone 

 (escape). Sweet Violet, Dog Violet (V . Riviniana), Primrose, Ground 

 Ivy, Spurge Laurel, Lesser Periwinkle, and, in suitable habitats, the 

 Lesser Celandine, Marsh Marigold, Cuckoo Flower, Garlic Mustard, 

 Furze, Blackthorn, Barren Strawberry, Coltsfoot, Butterbur, Red 

 Deadnettle, Wliite Deadnettle, Wych Elm, Goat Willow, Yew and W^ild 

 Hyacinth, were observed in flower. The Winter Aconite was in fruit. 



Fungi. — Mr. F. A. Mason reports that three comparatively small 

 areas were investigated for fungi and mycetozoa, viz. : — the Castle 

 Grounds, Mount Airey and Weedley Springs. Although Mr. Greevz 

 Fysher and he were the only members of the Mycological Committee 

 present at this meeting there was no lack of assistance in collecting what 

 fungi were available, and specimens were handed in by the President, 

 Mr. Stainforth, and others. The district is only sparsely wooded, and 

 except for a few trees in the Castle grounds very little old timber was 

 seen. Ash, birch and larch trees were all notably free from fungus para- 

 sites, and it was too early for cultivated and other plant diseases to have 

 asserted themselves. Polyporus squamosus and Fomes annosiis were 

 the only polypores growing on trees. Daedalea quercina occurred on a 

 gate-post and a small specimen of D. confragosa on a fallen branch, 

 both at Weedley Springs. ' Jews Ears ' were found on some large ash 

 logs in the Castle grounds, and also on their usual host, the elder, at 



1921 June 1 



