CiRC. 151. 



Askham Bog has been the subject of seven papers in the "Natural History Journal ' 

 for 1879-80, viz. :— I. Geological, II. Shells, III. Butterflies, IV. Birds, V. and VI. 

 Flowers and Ferns, VII. Beetles. A few remaining copies of these can still be had 

 at 3cl. each post free, or i/- for the set, from Editors, 'Natural History Journal,' 

 Bootham School, York. 



THE DISTRICT.— The Rev. W. C. Hey, M.A., writes that Askham Bog 

 is one of the very few undrained spots left in the Vale of Yoik. Hence the naturalist 

 values it much as the palaeontologist values one bone of an extinct animal, for from 

 it he can draw such a true and interesting picture of a phase in the development of 

 our great county now almost passed away. Pools bordered by flags, sedges, bulrushes 

 and marsh ferns ; jungles of Osmunda, with birch, willow and blackthorn ; all sorts of 

 birds, and insects, and molluscs that love such watery solitudes — these are the features 

 of Askham Bog. The Bog will be observed to consist of three general divisions. 

 Entering it from the north we come upon a large number of shallow pools and 

 deeper ponds (these latter disuse J brick ponds). This is 'Chandler's Whin,' the 

 glory of the coleopterist. Here, too, the conchologist will find his best hunting 

 ground, and the botanist some nice water plants. Beyond this are open marshy 

 fields, intersected by a ditch rather rich in many sorts of creatures. Crossing another 

 ditch we reach the Bog proper — a tangled mass of flags and sweet gale, and various 

 low growing trees. I remember as a child standing here under Osmundas which 

 towered many feet above my head, but I understand that grand fern has been 

 almost eradicated. Askham Bog is not what it was — big houses crowd up to it — 

 its thickets are noisy with the scream and thunder of trains, but even yet no natural- 

 ist can visit it without being both impressed and delighted with the pictures of fen 

 life presented to his eager eyes. 



ROUTES.— 



I. — The general body of naturalists, under the leadership of the Rev. T. 

 Ainsworth Brode and other York Members, will devote exclusive attention to Askham 

 Bog itself, and will leave York Station in conveyances at IO-15 a.m., driving to 

 the Dringhouses entrance, fare 6d. each. Members desiring seats in the conveyances 

 must notify Rev. T. Ainsworth Brode, 3, Penley's Grove Street, York, not later 

 than Thursday, May 31st. 



2. — The Geological Party will proceed in conveyances with the main party, 

 thence walk to Bilbrough, and work back to York, examining the moraines and 

 brick ponds mentioned in Mr. Kendall's paragraph, 



3. — Lepidopterists desirous of working the Bog at night on Saturday and 

 Monday, in company with Mr. William Hewett, should communicate with him at 

 12, Howard .Street, Fulford Road, York. 



PERMISSION has been granted by Mr. E. Lycett Green, subject to there 

 being no disturbance of game, nesting birds, or the ferns. 



GEOLOGY.— Mr. Percy F. Kendall, F.G.S., writes that the City of York 

 stands at the centre of a crescent of drift hills, the terminal moraine of a great 

 glacier. East of the City there is a practically undivided ridge, but to the West- 

 ward the moraine splits into several sub-parallel ridges or loops, and between these 

 lies the inter-morainic swamp, Askham Bog. The Geologists should visit the brick- 

 yards which lie just betwixt the North Eastern Railway and the Tadcaster Road. 

 If these should chance to be cleared of water a most interesting section will be seen 

 consisting of mounds of gravel covered by a laminated warp whose bedding conforms 

 to the surface of gravel through a thickness of 8 or 10 feet. The erratics include 

 many examples of a highly fossiliferous carboniferous limestone, besides volcanic 

 rocks from the Lake District and probably Shap Granite. A careful search should 

 be made for Porphyrites of the Cheviot type. If time permit, the excursion should 

 be extended to Bilbrough where there are good exposures of glacial gravels in pits 

 on the crest of the moraine, and the Triassic sandstones are visible in an old quarry 

 near Street Houses. Close to this place the Tadcaster District Council is boring 

 for water. 



BOTANY.— 



Flowering Plants. — Mr. H. J. Wilkinson writes that the following flowering 

 plants, etc., maybe met with : — Ranunculus Lingua, R. trichophyllus, R. hirsutus, 

 Barbai-ea stricia, Stellaria glatua, Hypericum Elodes, Rhatnnus cathariicus, R. 

 frangida, Rubus (many species), Rosa tomentosa, R. catiina (many sub- species), 

 Rarnassia, Pimpinella magna, CEnanthe Phellandrium, Carduus prafensis, Serra- 

 tula tinctoria, Mettyanthes, Utricularia vtilgaris, Hottonia, Lysitnachia vulgaris, 

 Rumex Hydrolapathum, Salix pentandra, S. fragilis, Myrica, Hydrocharis, Orchis 



