CiRC. 160. 



stone Grits, as well as the underlying limestones. The soft shales are being eroded, 

 and the hard limestones left to form pretty cataracts, and rushing rapids, similar to 

 those found in various parts of America ; especially at Niagara, where the limestone 

 ledge is constantly being undermined by the action of the spray, etc., on the soft 

 shales beneath ; causing that famous cataract to be slowly, but none the less surely, 

 receding at an ever varying speed, southward, in the direction of Lake Erie. The 

 same sources are at work in the Vale of Yore, and are producing similar results, but 

 of course, on a smaller scale. Notwithstanding this want of uniformity in texture 

 and formation, the Millstone Grits, to the west of Masham, dip as a rule, to the 

 east, at angles varying slightly, from three to ten degrees. 



On the east of Masham, and on the left bank of the Yore, we find a consider- 

 able deposit of Lower Magnesian Limestone, some 250 feet or more in thickness. 

 This extends in a north-easterly direction for many miles, in fact, it runs right 

 through the North Riding as well as the County of Durham, and between the towns 

 of Sunderland and Hartlepool, disappears under the waves of the German Ocean. 

 These rocks, which are often overlaid by thick deposits of Boulder Clay, etc., con- 

 sist of a soft, porous, light yellow sandy limestone, interstratified with seams of hard 

 blue lime, with occasionally fragments of grit, quartz, etc., derived from the older 

 formations. Some are fairly rich in fossil remains, especially in the vicinity of Well, 

 Nosterfield, and Tanfield, which lie from three to four miles east of Masham, and 

 where good sections of the strata may be found. The Magnesian Limestone here 

 •dips to the south-east at angles of from five to twenty-five degrees. The Rev. J. 

 ■Stanley Tute, who was a careful student of geology, collected the following, amongst 

 ■other fossils, in quarries at Well, and in the neighbourhood: — Cythere geinitziana 

 (Jones), Acaiithocladia anceps, Fenestella rctiforniis (Schloth.), Prodiicitis horridus 

 (Sow.), Productiis latirostratns (Howse), Terehrattila clongata (Schloth.), Strepto- 

 rhynchus pelargonatus (Schloth.), Spii'ifera alala, Schizodus truitcaius (King), 

 Schizodus rotnndaitis (Brown), Solemya, Leda spcltincaria, Nautilus Frieslebeini 

 (Geinitz), Turbo helicinits, Pleuropliorus costatiis {^xo^x\). The height above sea - 

 level of the Magnesian Limestone varies from 150 to 450 feet, whilst the Grits rise 

 :5radually westward from Masham for several miles, until eventually, on Pen Hill, 

 they attain an altitude of 1,500 feet. 



It might be well for Glacialists to keep a sharp look out for erratic blocks on 

 the banks of the Yore and its tributaries; carefully noting their size and position. 

 A fine boulder of Shap granite lies on the left bank of the Yore, about two miles 

 south of Masham, and near to the farm called Stubbings. 



BOTANY. — This section will be officially represented. 



Mr. Wm. Carter, senr. , writes that the flora of the district is fairly extensive, 

 but, of course, in August, the wealth of flowers is overpast. The following are the 

 most notable plants that occur : — Epipactis latijolia, E. palustris. Orchis ttstulata, 

 O. pyramidalis, Gyiimadenia couopsea, Ophiys niuscifera, O. apifera, Neottia spira- 

 lis, lAstcra iiidtts-avis, Paris quadrijolia, Primitla farinosa, Parnassia palustris, 

 Tt-ollius europ(rits, Drosera rotundijolia (D. angelica used to occur, but is probably 

 now extinct), Actttaspicata, Leopard's Bane,Wintergreen, Oak fern, Beech fern and 

 Moonwort. 



Mrs. M. E. Stevenson writes that the Green Spleenwort grows in Birk Gill, 

 and Cniciis heterophyllus near Woodale. The wild Yellow Pansy was all over the 

 pastures, about Pott Bank, in June. 



It is worthy of note that iMistletoe is acclimatised and flourishing in the grounds 

 of Burton House. 



Baker ('North Yorkshire,' ed. z, p. 172) says that on the north side of the 

 Yore opposite Hackfal I Viola sepiitcola, Syinphyluin tuberosuiit,z.x\d Carcx strigosa 

 are found. 



Mr. William Foggitt, J. P., writes that the railway embankment between 

 Masham and Tanfield yields Helleboriis viridis, Aquilegia vulgaris, Arabis hirsuta, 

 Viola sepiitcola, Malva nioschala, Trifoliiuii procuiiibens, Spiraa Filipendula, Kosa 

 spinosissima, Poleriiun Saiiguisorba, Galium ochroleucum, Carlina vulgaris, 

 Matricaria discoidea. Campanula glomerata, Ligustruin vulgarc, Gcntiana cam- 

 pestris, Erythrcea Centaurium, Chlora pcrfoliata, IJnaria minor, Myosotis ciespitosa, 

 Samolus Vakrandi, Orchis pyramidalis, Gymnadenia couopsea, Ophrys apifera, 

 Avena pra'cnsis, Koelilcria crislata and Bromiis erect us. On the north bank of the 

 Yore, and in the adjacent fields, between Masham and Tanfield Cochlearia officinalis. 



