ranging E.S.E. heticccn the Rivers Lime and Wharf e. 5 



sandstone called millstone g-rit. This rock forms the highest edge around 

 many of the summits between In glebe rough and Cross Fell ; but in lower 

 ground, as on the south of Ingleton, it is covered by the upper carboniferous 

 rocks or true coal measures. 



The most recent of the rocks known in this country is the new red sand- 

 stone, whose unconformed beds sweep round the N.E., N., and S.W. sides of 

 the Lake district, and as we shall find are not absolutely wantiu"- in the tract 

 whose investigation is the object of this communication. 



General Description. 



The country of which I now propose to trace a geological description ex- 

 tends in an easterly direction from the valley of the Lune almost to that of the 

 Wharfe, and lies principally on the north side of the road from Kirby Lons- 

 dale by Ingleton, Settle, Malham, and Grassington. Along the middle of it, 

 from Casterton Fells near Kirby Lonsdale, to a few miles east of the Ribble, 

 ranges an almost continuous line of argillaceous rocks, mostly fissile, occa- 

 .sionally quarried for slate, tombstones, and flags. It is bounded on the north 

 by the wide, elevated strata of limestone whicli support the carboniferous 

 summits of Gragreth, VVhernside, Ingleborough, and Penygent ; and on the 

 south, (except at Kirby Lonsdale, where old red sandstone intervenes,) by nar- 

 rower and lower surfaces of the same limestone, which are succeeded still 

 further south by millstone grit and coal-measures, occupying for the most part 

 low ground. 



Including the rivers Lune and Wharfe, no less than nine streams running 

 from north to south cross this district, and expose in a very satisfactory man- 

 ner the order of relative position, with the actual declinations and visible or 

 inferred dislocations, of the rocks. Of these streams, the Wharfe, which rises 

 in the limestone series, continues in it across the line of the district in ques- 

 tion ; the Lune, which gathers its first waters partly from the limestone and 

 partly from the slate, divides slate rocks of different kinds, then crosses old red 

 sandstone and mountain limestone, and passes to the sea through millstone 

 grit. The remaining seven streams. Leek Beck, Kingsdale, and Chapel le 

 Dale waters, Clapham Beck, Wharf Beck, the Ribble, and Stainforth Beck, 

 all originate in mountain limestone and millstone grit : then, in their rapid 

 descent, they cut through these rocks and expose the subjacent slate, from 

 which they all, except Leek Beck, pass off to tlie incumbent limestone on the 

 south, and afterwards run in millstone grit and coal-measures. 



If to these advantages be added the fine mural precipices which encircle 

 Ingleborough and Penygent, and it be considered that the country is for the 



