344 The Natural Hrstory of Littondale, Yorks. 
excursion to be presently held in an adjoining dale, particular 
note of the fauna and; flora was taken, and on this account 
details of the records made in the various departments will be 
given more fully than usual. 
As might be expected from the geological features of the 
area, the hammermen were much in evidence, and_ their 
President, Mr. Cosmo Johns, by example and precept, caused 
his party to work hard. The result was a substantial addition 
to our knowledge of the fauna and stratigraphy of the 
Carboniferous Limestone of the area. 
Of perhaps more general interest was the visit paid by the | 
more venturous of the party to Skotska cave. This runs 
underground, tunnel-like, for a great distance, and is remark- 
able for its regular course and. perfectly flat roof. A good coat 
and a pair of trousers, far into the cavern, were ‘finds’ of a 
somewhat unexpected nature! 
On Monday evening the usual general meeting was held, 
under the presidency of Mr. C. Crossland. At this, votes of 
thanks were passed to the landowners, and to the Rev. W. A. 
Shuffrey for allowing the party to examine his fine botanical 
garden, and some new members were elected. Brief reports 
on the work of the sections were presented by the officers. 
These are given at greater length in these pages. 
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY.—This section was officially repre- 
sented by its President, Mr. Riley Fortune, and one of its 
Secretaries, Mr. H. B. Booth, who report :—Several working 
members being present, this Section accomplished good work 
during the limited time at its disposal. 
Mammals.—Eleven species of Mammals were indentified, 
viz. :—Mole, Common Shrew, Water Shrew, Stoat, Weasel, 
Squirrel, Brown Rat, Red-backed or Bank Vole, Long-tailed 
Field Mouse, Hare and Rabbit. Of these, the Hare was 
decidedly scarce, but the Rabbit was extremely abundant 
throughout the valley. Several black, and a few white, varieties 
were noticed, probably the descendants of tame rabbits turned 
down. ‘ Rabbits everywhere’ was a common remark, and yet 
their greatest enemy, the Stoat, was very numerous. Several of 
the latter were seen, and a local gamekeeper had the tails of 
fifty-six Stoats and ten Weasels strung up at his house, and all 
killed since February. Judging by the results of a dozen small 
traps continually set, the Common Shrew must be very 
numerous in the valley, and one specimen each of the Water 
Shrew, the Long-tailed Field Mouse, and the Red-backed or 
“Naturalist, 
