THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ UNION AT SEDBERGH. 227 
eating it.) A little further on the party were delighted to meet with 
a large patch of Epimedium alpinum, well established under the 
protection of Hazel-bushes, and flowering freely. |The probability 
is that this plant has been brought here by the Lune when in flood. 
On this portion of the river the Yorkshire side is much more 
picturesque than the Westmorland, the ‘ Bluestone’ stands on edge, 
and in mid-stream the waters chafe and roar impatiently at the 
restraint imposed upon them by the solid diagonal wall and huge 
boulders that stretch from one bank to the other. Sticking close to 
the side of the stream a search among the confused and highly 
picturesque masses of rock revealed many of Flora’s choicest 
wildings. The elegant fronds of the Oak-Fern, nearly always 
accompanied by her sister the Beech-Fern, clothed many an oozy 
nook in delicate beauty; and large patches of the Opposite-leaved 
Golden Saxifrage illumined many an otherwise gloomy recess. This 
rambling runners was, in spite of its rambles, delightfully at home. 
Globe Flower and Marsh Marigold adorned the boggy spots with 
orange and gold, the great Hedge Bedstraw clambered in glorious 
profusion over rock and rough slope, and e’er this meets the eye of 
the reader will have covered them with blooms of snowy white. Its 
near relatives the Heath and Northern Bedstraws were also here, the 
One as yet in dainty green cushions, the other springing from clefts 
in the tough and polished Silurians where one would have thought 
life impossible. Early as it was in the year the wand-like stems of 
the Golden-rod were frequently met with, and one precocious 
Specimen flaunted its yellow tassels to the breeze. In passing over 
the very hard and very slippery rocks great care had to be exercised 
to avoid what would have been to say the least of it a very ugly fall, 
and probably a ducking into the bargain. And let it here be said, 
though the party was small there was no lack of enthusiasm, and if 
€ach member was not a botanist, he was what is better—a true nature 
worshipper. There was no scrambling or undue haste to take 
Specimens, but a strong and loving desire on the part of all to 
Preserve intact the floral beauties around them. 
‘A thing of beauty is a joy for ever.’ 
The Lesser Celandine was frequently found bearing in great abundance 
bulbils in the axils of the lower leaves. This elicited from Mr. John 
Braim, of Pickering (who represented the ornithologists), the 
interesting fact that Wood Pigeons are very fond of these bulbils, he 
having shot them when their crops contained scarcely any other kind 
of food. 
August 28 1894. 
