CiRC. 143 

 are caves; notably one above Gawthrop, which may be explored with the help of a 

 candle ; there is a smaller one on the north side of the valley nearly opposite Dent 

 and a third near the river above Hell's Cauldron. In dry seasons the water runs 

 underground and the river bed below Hell's Cauldron is dry. 



The paragraph on geology written for the Sedbergh circular of Aug. 1st, 1S87, 

 by Mr. J. \V. Davis, may be referred to with advantage. 



BOTANY. — Mr. John Handley writes : Much as we admire Dentdale, we 

 feel how grand the flowers must have been before the days of ploughs, harrows, or 

 the cutting of drains, when it was all forest, entered by a gate near the residence of 

 Mr. R. Burra, which still retains its name. The gentle, modest and timid flowers 

 would then flourish, as well as the fine and stately Foxglove and Giant Bell Flower, 

 which have now to take refuge in the fences, by the sides of the green tunnels of the 

 pretty lanes. There are some plants which have an early record, but have not 

 been seen recently and which do require confirmation. Draba incana and Di'aba 

 ■mtiralis were recorded for Dent in 1666. CypTPpediitin Calceohis (Lady's Slipper) 

 we find in Miall's Flora ' (Deepdale) Dentdale, leaves only (1854).' Some botanists 

 are so sanguine as to believe that the plant is there still that it is intended to organize 

 a party to look for it this summer. I have found it difficult to keep right with 

 ' leaves only,' but I hope they may be successful — the habitat is likely. Ray says 

 (1670) ^Salix herbacea on a hill called Whernside over against Ingleborough,' and on 

 the opposite side of the valley Salix nigricans is likely to be found, as it is recorded 

 for just over the hill. Finder ((845) records Akheinilla a/^ma (Alpine Lady's 

 Mantle) for Dent Craggs, and it is said that the Sedbergh and Dent districts are the 

 only places in Yorkshire where this plant grows. Finder also records Ribes 

 alpinitin and R. rubmm as true natives of Dent. Agrimonia odorata has an early 

 record, but they all want recent confirmation. J. Windsor says ^^^//w villoswu 

 grows on the Dent slopes of Widdale. Orchis morio, Bentham says, is in Lower 

 Dentdale and 0/chis ustulata has an early record. Gyinnadenia conopsea is said to 

 be common on the grassy turf of Dentdale. Pritnus padus (Heckberry) is one of 

 the characteristic plants of Dent and flowers early under favourable circumstances, 

 and grows to a large i,\zQ.;Artim maciilatiuii (Cuckoo Pint) is very common, Primicla 

 farinosa is on the limestone and sparingly on the slate, Latkrcea squamaria (Tooth- 

 wort), Cardamine ainai-a (liitter Cress), C- iinpatiens ought to be found as it is not 

 far away, Ranimctdus aquaticiis (Water Crowfoot), R. acris grows very double, 

 both in the higher and lower part of the dale, Polygala depressa is by the road-side, 

 Stellaria aqiiatica (Water Chickweed). Geranijim sylvaticutn (Wood Cranesbill). 

 G. liicidiim (Shining Cranesbill) covers some old walls by the road-side. Rubus 

 Chaimemorus (Cloudberry, or Knoutberry according to Sir John Hill) grows plenti- 

 fully on Whernside and Knoutberry Haw. CirccBa alpina (Alpine Nightshade) 

 wants confirmation. Peiicedanuni Ostritthiiun (Masterwort) is an introduction for 

 medicinal purposes. Campamila rapiinculoides (Creeping Bell Flower) is spreading 

 fast and seems to be anxious to be one in the survival of the fittest, as it grows the 

 whole length of the valley. Vaccinizim Vitis-idcEa (Cowberry) grows on the Baugh- 

 fell side at a high elevation. Convolvulus Sepiuiii (Great Bindweed) is in some of 

 the hedges, Viola palustris is stated by R. Clapham to be common. Chrysospleniuin 

 alternifolium is rather scarce, and so are the fly- catching plants, Drosera rotundi- 

 folia and Pinguicula vulgaris. Ferns are plentiful, including Aspleniuiii Adiantuni- 

 nigrum, Ctterach officinaruin, Cystopteris fragilis, C. alpina., Aspleniuui viride, 

 Cryptogramuie crispa, Blechnum boreale, and Scelopendrinvi vulgare. It will be in- 

 teresting to note if the Lycopodiums grow in Dent, as L. clavatTim, L. alpiniiin, 

 L. se'ago and L. selaginoides all grow on Holme Fell, which adjoins Dent. Last year 

 Gentiana Aniai ella and Erigcron acris were added to the Dent list. 



Mosses and Hepatics. — Mr. George Stabler writes that the best place for 

 the Hepaticologist is, as far as he knows, Bracken Ghyll. There are also two fine 

 ghylls, one at and another below Dent village. The Habrodon was gathered on an 

 ash some distance below the village near the river. Breutelia arcuata fruited more 

 freely and grew finer at Bracken Ghyll than in any place he has seen. The 

 Lejeunea haniatifolia and Bazzania deflexa grow at the same place. Many years 

 since he introduced into the lower part of Bracken Ghyll some plants of Dumortiera 

 irrigua which he received from the late Dr. D. Moore of Glasnevin. He has once 

 been there since, now many years ago, and failed to find it growing. All the con- 

 ditions would be favourable to its growth except that of the winter temperature 

 which will be greatly lower than that of Killarney. Mr. Stabler also supplies the 

 following names of a few of the Mosses and Hepatics which he has found in Dent. 

 Spliagnuin acutifoliuni var. qnifiquefariuin Br. f. pallens Warnst. ; S. aculifolium 



