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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



in actual contact. They are both of a very 

 firm texture, and require all the geologist's 

 patience as well as cleaving powers, to get 

 a specimen. The shells were particularly 

 beautiful, and, in many places, prevented the 

 foot from slipping on the smooth inclined plane 

 of rock. 



Different species of Producti (a bivalve 

 shell, bearing some resemblance to a cockle), 

 were very plentiful, of all sizes, varying from 

 half an inch to several inches in diameter. 

 The madrapores did not yield to them in 

 beauty. In the stream we procured one, not 

 less than six stone weight— a most perfect 

 mass of petrified animal life. To the unini- 

 tiated, it may be necessary to describe a 

 madrapore. Well, then, suppose a quantity 

 of common earth worms, to the number of 

 several thousands, laid together as if tied in 

 a bundle, and this turned into hard lime- 

 stone. This gives you a pretty good notion 

 of a madrapore, with this addition, that the 

 little creatures are banded and striate with 

 the utmost regularity. When weathered, or 

 broken across, they show a wheel- like section. 

 In size, they vary from less than a line, to 

 two or more inches in diameter ; and the 

 masses from a few inches to many feet. The 

 largest madrapore — known as the Ram's-horn, 

 seldom occurs in bundles of any size ; and 

 it presents a curved figure, resembling a horn. 

 So striking is this resemblance, that I nearly 

 got knocked down by a miner, on one oc- 

 casion, for declaring that sheep were not in 

 existence at the time of the formation of 

 mountain limestone rock. 



The conglomerate is the most appropriately 

 named of all rocks, being a seemingly con- 

 fused mixture of broken fragments of different 

 rocks ; including red sandstone, limestone, 

 agate, quartz, and no end of different things, 

 of every form and color, cemented together 

 by the lime particles. The prevailing color 

 is a sandstone brown, with a dash of blueish 

 grey. The stream from this Scar joins the 

 River Eden ; the bed of which, for mile6, is 

 covered with fragments of limestone, con- 

 glomerate, madrapore, and shells. So con- 

 cealed is this cut in the hill, that a gentleman, 

 of the name of Ewbank, when hunting, is said 

 to have accidentally rode over, and with his 

 horse to have been killed on the spot. 

 Hence the name, Ewbank Scar. 



Winder Scar is on the opposite side of the 

 county, and does not present the same in- 

 terest to the general observer ; though the 

 view from the summit, is perhaps even 

 fairer. It embraces the lake Ullswater, 

 Helvellyn, Mill-fell, and many other beautiful 

 mountains. Nor are the fossils in any way 

 inferior to those of the last. Here we counted 

 no less than six species of madrapore. The 

 conglomerate is not seen here until we pass 

 a little to the north. In the channel of a 



little beck, we meet with it in considerable 

 quantity. Towards the middle of May, I 

 had an opportunity of examining another 

 flat-terraced hill, known as Knipe Scar, 

 between Bampton and Shap. This hill is of 

 a much greater extent than Kettlewell ; but 

 it presents the same general characters. The 

 fossils were the same, and require no further 

 notice. 



Among plants, may be mentioned the 

 horse- shoe vetch, Hij>pocrepio cemosa, a 

 pretty yellow pea-flowering plant ; the com- 

 mon burnet ; and the cudweed, Gnophaliurn 

 dioicum. But so elevated was the situation, 

 and, from its flat surface, so exposed to winds 

 that, instead of being three or four inches 

 high, this latter plant was scarcely half an 

 inch, though in full flower ! I particularly 

 noticed the abundance of shells. These are 

 by no means common, in the lake district. 

 The striated whirl shell (zonites rotundata) 

 clung, in hundreds, to every stone we lifted. 

 One of the pupas, probably umbellicata, and 

 the azeca tridens, were also plentiful ; but, 

 above all others, was the common banded 

 shell, Helix nernoralis. So thickly were 

 they strewn, in many places, that even a 

 Howard could not have avoided treading 

 scores of them to death. 



Almost in a line with this, in a westerly 

 direction, is another range of limestone, of 

 the same character — rising to a height of 

 1800 feet, and commanding a view of most 

 of the high mountains of Cumberland and 

 Westmoreland, and not a few of the Yorkshire 

 hills as well ; including Howgill and Bowfell. 



In ascending, we came upon the remains 

 of a fossil plant, bearing all the appearance 

 of a sea-weed. It was not unlike some species 

 of plocamium. Two fine species of ammonites 

 and many ordinary bivalves were procured. 



THE FIRST SNOWDROP. 



One long in populous cities pent, 



Forgetting Nature's genial power, 

 May find a thousand memories blent, 

 A thousand gracious movements lent, 

 Even in a single flower! 



On the bleak hill-side, 'neath bare boughs, 



The hoarse cry of the rooks I hear ; 

 The babbling runnel freshly flows, 

 The Spring wind strikes upon my brows, 

 And time runs back for many a year ! 



My soul's high thoughts that cold spring day 

 When ye did queen it in the grass, 



Come back again in long array, 



And fill me with a stern dismay, 

 Like mocking spectres as they pass ! 



Ah me ! the time that is and was ! 



Not night from morn more different seems ! 

 Thou hold'st, fair flower, a magic glass 

 That shows tho gulf I cannot pass — 



Except, as now, in weeping dreams ! — H. F. 



