14 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS UNION. 



been seen than at any previous meeting; it was, except at the 

 above-mentioned places, of a typicall)^ calcareous character, and 

 contained many northern and subalpine species: it was also 

 marked by the abundance of certain local species, as Saxifraga 

 hypnoides, Ffiinula farinosa, &c. In the abundance and exuber- 

 ance of mosses and lichens, of which a rich drapery covered 

 every stone and tree, it far surpassed any part of Yorkshire 

 hitherto visited by the Union. This luxuriance of cryptogam ic 

 vegetation is to be attributed to the westerly situation of the 

 district on the Atlantic side of the great central water parting, to 

 its mountainous character and to its freedom from the atmospheric 

 impurities present in manufacturing districts. 



bishop's wood, august 5TH, 1878. 



In strong contrast to the Settle district was the next place of 

 meeting of the Union. 



On August 5th the localities explored were Hambleton, 

 Bishop's Wood, Morton Bog, Monk Fryston, Biggin, &c., most 

 of these places being under 50 ft. above the sea level. The 

 nature of the soil in these several places varies between sand, 

 clay, limestone and peat, and the flora presents corresponding 

 variations. Few special rarities were found, the flora being the 

 ordinary one of a fertile lowland district; nevertheless, owing 

 partly to the time of year being that when the greatest number of 

 plants are out, and partly to the circumstance that such districts 

 afford congenial conditions to more kinds of flowering plants than 

 do elevated, cold and barren ones, the number of species observed 

 was fully as great as at any previous meeting. Very few crypto- 

 gams were found and those only the common ones of the lowlands. 

 The neighborhood of Hambleton is rich in the fruticose Rubi, 

 whereas at the Settle meeting all the other British species of 

 Rubus were recorded, but none of the Fruticosi, although doubtless 

 they occur. 



WHARNCLIFFE, SEPTEMBER I4TH, 1 878. 



At the last meeting of the season on September T4th the 

 places visited were Oughtibridge, Wharncliffe Wood, Wortley, 



■JVans.Y.N.U., 1878. Senes E 



