179 



FRESHWATER RHIZOPODA AND HELIOZOA FROM 

 KINDER SCOUT. 



JAMES MEIKLE BROWN, B.Sc, F.L.S., 



Sheffield. 



No records of Rhizopods or Heliozoa from the Kinder Scout 

 district appear to have been pubhshed, and as it may be taken 

 to represent the highest moorlands in the county, a study of the 

 ;micro-fauna should prove to be of interest. During a visit 

 ;made early in March, material was collected along a route 

 following the public footpath from Edale Head, by way of 

 Edale Cross, William Clough and Ashop Clough to the Snake 

 Inn. This, unfortunately, does not allow of collecting being 

 done on the Kinder Plateau itself (2000 feet). 



Sphagnum and other submerged mosses and hepatics were 

 gathered at as many points on the way as possible, so that the 

 material may be regarded as characteristic of the district at 

 this season. The following are the chief localities, several 

 gatherings being taken from each : — 



1. Jacob's Ladder (1500-1600 feet). 



2. Kinder-low End (1600 feet). 



3. William Clough (i 100-1600 feet). 



4. Ashop Head (1670 feet). 



5. Ashop Clough (Featherbed Moss side, 1260 feet). 



6. Ashop Clough (Cabin Moss side, iioo feet). 



7. Near the Snake Inn (1070 feet),* 



All these localities are on the Limestone Shales (Yoredale 

 Rocks), and it is an interesting question whether the geological 

 nature of the locality has any direct influence upon the Rhizopod 

 fauna. It certainly seems true that the Carboniferous Lime- 

 stone districts are less rich than the Gritstone, Granite and 

 similar areas which I have examined, but it will probably be 

 found that the influence is indirect, and depends mainly upon 

 the vegetation rather than directly upon the geological char- 

 acter. 



From the point of view of vegetation, the collecting grounds 

 I and 7 are classed as Siliceous Grassland, 2 and 3 as Bilberry 

 Moor, and 4, 5, and 6 as Cottongrass Moor,! but on comparing 

 the lists given below, no great distinction can be drawn between 

 the faunas of these associations ; the Cottongrass Moor shews, 

 however, a slightly greater number of species (49), the Bilberry 

 Moor comes next (38), while the Siliceous Grassland shews the 

 •least (26). 



* Heights are approximate. 

 ■)■ See ' Types of British Vegetation,' Ed. Tansley, 191 1, p. 274. 



igi2 June i. 



