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YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT MALHAM. 



The members of the V(Ji"kshirc Naturahsts' Union held 

 their 223rd meeting in the Malham cHstrict on Saturday, 

 June 4th, 1910. The geologists had the advantage of the 

 leadership of Messrs. Cosmo Johns and W. Robinson. The 

 former has recently published a new map of the area, showing 

 the position of the great * faults.' These were demonstrated 

 to occupy a very different position from those shown on the 

 geological sur\'ey ma]:)S. The well-know^n Malham Cove was 

 also visited. This great wall of cliff, about 300 feet in height, 

 now the breeding-place of innumerable house martins and other 

 birds, was at one time the site of a huge waterfall. Above it 

 the old dr}^ river valley, down which the water flowed, is still 

 clearly to be seen. Now the water has found its way down the 

 innumerable fissures which occur in the hard white limestone, 

 and travels for great distances underground. At Janet's 

 Cave waterfall, on the other hand, the rock appears to be grow- 

 ing and increasing the height and width. This was visited by 

 the party, and it was clear that there was a growth of travertine, 

 which was accumulating to a large extent. This travertine is 

 deposited from the water, which is super-saturated with lime. 



In the evening a general meeting was held, presided over 

 by Mr. G. T. Porritt. The recorders of the various sections 

 presented their reports, and a vote of thanks was passed to 

 Mr. W. Morrison for the facilities he had given to the members. 



The results of the work of the sections is given in the 

 following reports : — 



Vertebrate Zoology. — Mr. H. B. Booth reports : — Some of 

 the moorland birds, such as the Golden Plover, Redshank and 

 Lapwing, were in smaller numbers than is usual here. A 

 very tine view was obtained of the semi-wild goats on the cliffs 

 above the Tarn. 



^On the moor were the Curlew,! Redshank, f Red Grouse, 

 Partridge, Lapwing,*! Golden Plover, Dunlin and Wheatear. 

 At the Tarn were Mallard,! Teal,! Tufted Duck,* Coot,*f 

 Water-hen, f Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull and Little 

 Grebe.* The Black Indian Ducks which were introduced 

 on to the Tarn several years ago by Mr. Morrison, were puzzling 

 to those ornithologists who were not aware of this fact. 



1 The species marked * were noted with eggs, and those marked f had 



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1910 Sept. I. 



