47 O REPORT ON FIELD MEETINGS 



The next morning broke fine and clear, and we made an 

 early start. We crossed the stream by the bridge, and followed 

 through the meadows, here thickly strewn with the Mountain 

 Pansy in its beautiful and endless variety of colour; while 

 overhead a Snipe drummed, and Redshanks and Peewits 

 called. Arrived at the hillside a slow ascent was made, with 

 many a pause to take breath and enjoy the views opening out 

 to the northward. 



Once at the summit our course lay westward, in search of 

 the patch of silver sand where our botanists were in hopes of 

 finding some of the special rarities for which the Fell is known. 

 The Fell proved to be broken peat ground. Golden Plover 

 and occasional Grouse were seen, but though the former 

 showed great anxiety, careful search failed to find either eggs 

 or young. Some large moths were seen, probably the Oak 

 Egger, but proved too strong on the wing to be captured and 

 identified. 



After some search the silver patch was found, and here we 

 were pleased to find the Shrubby Cinquefoil and the Mountain 

 Avens ; though it is much to be feared that the depredations of 

 greedy botanists and collectors will soon cause these interest- 

 ing plants to be no more than a memory. Then we took our 

 lunch, and after a rest followed the spur of the hill down into 

 the valley of the Tees, reaching it not far belc^w the junction 

 of the Maize Beck. Turning towards our lodgings, we followed 

 the course of the stream along the base of Cronkley Scarrs. 

 There we were glad to see the Ring Ousel fairly numerous, 

 but looked in vain for the Raven or Peregrine Falcon, both of 

 wdiich fine birds, once well established here, have now been 

 banished by the gamekeeper and collector; tliough even now 

 in the early spring one or two are frequently to be seen. 

 Continuing past the old slate pencil quarry, we reached the 

 bridge we had crossed in the morning. Here we separated 

 for our respective lodgings ; but those who went towards 

 Langdon Beck were caught in a heavy thunderstorm which 

 had been brewing for some time, and got a thorough wetting, 

 which those going to High Force escaped. This storm 



