THE YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS’ UNION AT AYSGARTH. 229 
has had no power to harm, and one is inclined to believe that this 
is greatly owing to the continual recurrence of these impervious beds 
which crop out at successive levels down the sides of the slopes, and 
provide a natural system of surface irrigation. Everywhere the 
Sweetest spring verdure prevailed, and the flowers sparkled in the 
lush grass—summer flowers many of them were, owing to the great 
forwardness of the season. On the floor of the valley are several 
Swamps and marshy tracts which were hailed with great delight by the 
party, and they were not disappointed, for they afforded many good 
Plants, and most of this varied ground was worked by one or other 
of them, for several had been on the spot since Saturday, and 
others had walked over from Wharfedale on the Sunday, finding 
Rubus chamemorus flowering as freely as the wood anemone about 
the water-parting, and accompanied by Saxifraga granu/ata in great 
abundance, from the ridge almost as far as Aysgarth, where it seems 
to be less frequent. Jack Wood was searched on Sunday, and also 
lower Waldendale. On Monday two or more parties worked the 
river-banks on both sides from the lower Force almost to the stepping- 
stones, under the skilled guidance of Miss Bradley, of Carperby, who 
led them to the home of several rare plants, including A//ium vineale 
cula vulgaris, Orchis ustulata, Stellaria nemorum of a very luxuriant 
form, and Polygonum viviparum. The side valley of Ellerbeck, and 
its swamp, were also visited, and the refuse-heaps of the old lead- 
mines at this spot. Here, as always, like groundsel in a garden, were 
found on this débris of the mineral vein, Avenaria verna, with its 
Crony, Thlaspi occitanum, and, what is not so usual, beds of thrift, 
_ Covering a rood of ground, in perfect bloom—a marvel of beauty, 
_ With large flowers of every shade from palest pink to deepest rose. 
Others of us accompanied the geologists to the summit of Penhill, 
‘Gathering the tiny Auschinsia, not yet out of flower, and observing _ 
the Parsley, Hard and Holly Ferns. The more uncommon of the 
plants noted on this delightful excursion were, in addition ot tee 
_ Some already mentioned :—Aguilegia vulgaris, T) Trollius europaus, 
Draba incana, Saxifraga hypnoides, Menyanthes trifoliata, veal S 
crepis comosa, Rubus saxatilis, Rosa spinosissima, Rosa mollissé 
= : Geum intermedium, Lithospermum officinale, Euonymus ora : 
squamaria, Asplenium trichomanes, A. ruta-muraria, — 
ee A. viride, Allosorus crispus, Polystichum aculeatum, Selaginella 
oe slaginoide Sesleria carulea, =— nutans, M. uniflora, Bromus 
— comme - murt- : 
