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CiRC, 106- 



UiTER Cretaceous.— On ascending the lull near Waiter Trioi-y, the 

 Red Chalk, the lowest bed of the Upper Cretaceous, is ol^served to crop out. This 

 bed extends in a long sinuous line from Speeton, along the north side of the Wolds 

 to Acklam Brow, turns southwardly to Brough, and through Lincolnshire to 

 Hunstanton in Norfolk, where it entirely disappears. The Red Chalk also crops 

 oat in the dales of the Wolds, wherever the overlying White Chalk has been cut 

 through by denudation ; it can also be traced by the springs which issue from its 

 junction with the underlying clays, whether Lias, Oxford, Kimmeridge, or Neoco- 

 niian. The deep red colour of this bed, in marked contrast to the White Chalk 

 above, is due to the presence of oxide of iron, but the manner of its introduction 

 IS a matter of much speculation. In the Warter brickyard is seen the famous 

 section mentioned by Messrs. Tate and Blake in tlieir great work on the 'Yorkshire 

 Lias.' Here, although somewhat obscured by slips, were seen ni situ Grey and 

 White Chalk, succeeded below by the Red Chalk and again beneath by Lower Lias 

 beds of the zone of Anniwuifes bucklandi. Characteristic fossils of the Lower Lias, 

 such as Bclcuinitcs aciitus and GiypJuea iiiatrva arc here obtainable in abundance. 

 The chalk beds in this area consist entirely of the lower and middle divisions, no 

 uppt^i' Chalk being present. 



Chalk Gravel.s. — The surface dc]")osits passed over will be chiefly 



post-glacial chalky gravels, which are found very extensively at the foot of the 

 Wolds. Lach of the winding valleys which intersects the clialk of this area has 

 Its bottom largely composed of a flat surface of these gravels, which consist entirely 

 of chalk fragments and flints, the relics of ages of steady denudation. These 

 gravels readily absorb water, and so the valleys are usually dry bedded. 



BOTANY. — The Botanical Section will be officially represented by Mr. P. F. 

 Lee, the President, and Messrs. M. B. Slater, P^L.S.,and C. Crossland, Secretaries 

 of the Section. 



Mr. J. J. Marshall writes that: — The circular for the last meeting at Pockling- 

 ton stated the flora of the district was unknown ; very little work has since been 

 done to place it on a more satisfactory footing. The lateness of the present fixture 

 ^nd the early flowering season will probably prevent a large number of 

 phanerogams from coming under notice. During a recent visit to Allerthorpe 

 Common and Barmby Moor the following characteristic sand and peat loving plants 

 were secured, and some will reward the careful searcher: — Gentimia pneumonanthe^ 

 Coniarufii paliistre [fruit), Jasione inoiitaiia^ Drosera inlcnnedla, Oniithopus 

 perpifsillus, Galium uligiiwsui)!, Salix repc/is, Radiola iitillcgraua and Sclerajiihtis 

 annuus. Malva rolundifolia is frequent by the side of old buildings in the villages 



near, and Siloic noctifora. Smtguisorha ojjiciiialis, Carduus liderophylhis, Anagailis 

 tcnella, Lamiiiiii an'iplexicaulc^ In/ago minima, CcuiunciiJus viindmus, Ruviex 

 hydrolapathum, and Apcjn, spica-vcnti have all been noted on similar ground, 

 Within the radius of a few miles. Those who ascend the higher ground to 

 Kildwick Percy, the adjacent portion of the ^'orkshirc Wolds, witl jirobably meet 

 With Cajduiis uutafis, Scabiosa colun!ba]-ia zxid Spiraa fdiponiula. The following; 

 mosses occur on the common -.^Dicranum falusiix, Dicranu^n spuriu?n, 

 Dicranella cerviculaia, Bryum erytJirocarpum, 7'orfu/a- co7ivolufa, and specimens 

 of Cajiipyiopns should be found. The Northern lichen Cctraria islandica is 

 abundant. 



Mr. P. F. Lee writes:— The neighbourhood of Pocklington, with the sloping 

 sides of the Western escarpment of the Wolds, ought to be fairly good botanical 

 ground, but there appears to be very little information available, this part of the 

 East Riding having l)een somewhat inadequately worked. 



Out of about i6o observations made on June 24th, 18S5 (in the district of 

 Kildwick Percy and Warter), the following may be named, although none are 

 plants of great rarity :— 



Berberis zul^aids 



Vioia Jiirta 

 Geiint ijiicrmcdiiun 

 Geranium prattuse 

 d'oicriuiji. sa^icuisorba 



Origanum vulgare 

 Coriius sauguinca 

 Carex Jiirla 

 Festiica elatior 



Eqtiiseium maximum. 



It IS to be hoped that, even at this period of the year, considerable additions 



may be registered, thus contribuiing authentic records towards a future Fast Ridinrr 

 i* lora. 



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