2 74 GOULDING : LINCOLNSHIRE NATURALISTS AT GRANTHAM. 



in several other localities, was of opinion that it is a relic of 

 the time when the tide had access to the valley, being perhaps 

 the only surviving representative of the old fitty-flora. After 

 passing through Belton and Syston, the first halt was made at 

 Barkston, where a good section of Marlstone was seen, and where 

 Mr. Preston delivered the first of a series of lecturettes with which 

 he favoured the visitors during the day, his remarks being illustrated 

 by diagrams. He gave a description of the Middle Lias, and the 

 general lie of the strata. In this exposure the characteristic fossils 

 Rhynconella tetrahedra and Terebratula punctata were collected. 



At Honington, where the Celandine {Chelidonium majus) was 

 very abundant by the hedge sides, another halt was made, and 

 Mr. Preston indicated the diversion of the river Witham from its 

 ancient course near Barkston, causing the river to leave its north 

 and east direction and to flow westward; he also drew attention 

 to the gap in the Lincolnshire Cliff, which he considered to have 

 been produced by the ancient river Witham when it flowed east- 

 ward on through Sleaford to a great bay now known as the Fenland; 

 another feature was the Watershed crossing the valley near Ancaster, 

 by which two small streams which rise in close proximity to each 

 other are diverted; one, the Honington Beck, flowing westward 

 through the gap, the other, the river Slea, flowing eastward along 

 the valley to Sleaford. 



Driving thence through West Willoughby, and arriving at 

 Ancaster, two parties were formed. The geologists visited the 

 railway cutting to take a view of the anticlinical bend in the 

 Limestone Rocks, in which bend were several large vertical fissures 

 20 to 30 feet wide, produced probably by denudation along lines 

 of weakness in the bent rocks. The botanists were conducted by 

 Mr. and Miss Stow, who have a thorough knowledge of local plants 

 and their habitats, to an old quarry, where some good finds were 

 made. The four be^t were the Field Fleawort (Senecio campestris), 

 which Mr. Peacock described as one of the rarest plants in the 

 county, the Squi nancy- wort (Asperu/a cynanchicd), Rupture-wort 



and 



glottis). 



hand 



per 



Rock Rose {Helianthemum vulgare) and the Horse-shoe Vetch 

 {Hippocrepis camosa) were abundant Wild Thyme was plentiful 

 on the road-sides near, and of the other plants found, Specularia 

 kybrida may be mentioned. One curious thing observed in the 

 quarry was a spider's web containing the remains of two or three 

 4 Common Blue' Butterflies {Lycarna alexis). 



V. 



Naturalist, 



