YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS' UNION AT WHITBY. 



349 



naictileits, abundant in the Abbey pond, Whitby, of which it was the only molluscan 

 inhabitant, Linmcea peregra, L. triincatiila, in damp places on the undercliffs, and 

 Ancyhts fliiviatilis, plentiful on shells of Unio margaiHtife^-its ; three slugs — Arion 

 aier, Limax agrestis^ and L, maximiis, all at Egton Bridge ; and ten land shells — 

 Succinea putris^ with L. truncahtla on the undercliffs, Zonites cellaidiis, Z. alliarnts, 

 Z. nitidiilus. Helix aspersa, H. nemoralis, H. hispida, H. coiiciima, H. rotundata, 

 and Ziia hibrica, all more or less numerous about Whitby Abbey and the under- 

 cliffs. The investigations had been made by Messrs. Baker Hudson and Wm. 

 Coates, of Middlesbrough, W. Denison Roebuck, and Rev. W. C. Hey. The 

 latter had also collected a few marine shells, amongst which he mentioned Littorina 

 saxatilis, L. littorea, L. littoralis, Chiton maj-ginatiis, Trochtis cinereus, Modiola 

 modiolus, Anemia ephippiiini, and Patella vnlgata. Of other marine invertebrata, 

 Uraster rubens and Solaster papposa had been found. 



For the Entomological section, in the absence of its officers, Mr. J. H. 

 Rowntree, of Scarborough, reported that the lepidoptera noted included Satyrtis 

 janij'a, Metrocampa inargaritata, Boarmia rhoniboidaria, Abraxas grossiilariata, 

 Etibolia mensicraria, Camptogramma bilineata, and Cidaria rnssata or ivwianata. 



For the Botanical section, the report was given by Mr. Geo. Massee, F.R.M.S., 

 of Scarborough, one of the secretaries of the section, who stated that the number of 

 Phanerogams seen in flower or fruit, including those noted in the district between 

 Goathland and Grosmont by a small party from Scarborough, previous to the Union 

 ramble, amounted to 249, amongst which were several of special interest from a 

 distributional point of view, viz. : — Inula heleniiim. Genista tinctoria^ Vicia bithynica^ 

 and Lathy7-ns sylvestris. Twelve ferns were collected, but Osinunda regalis was not 

 forthcoming," and it is to be feared has, in common with those of the same species 

 once so abundant in the Scarborough district, been exterminated by plant poachers. 

 A single small tuft oi Polypoditivi diyopte^'is was seen. About 20 species of fungi were 

 observed, the most noteworthy being ALcidinm pei'iclyineni. Mr. M. B. Slater, 

 of Malton, supplemented this report in respect of the cryptogamic plants observed. 



For the Geological section the report was given by one of its secretaries, 

 Mr. S. A. Adamson, F.G.S., of Leeds, who stated that the members had had a 

 most practical field excursion. The attendance was exceptionally large, which may 

 be accounted for by the attractive character of the programme, embracing, as it did, 

 some of the finest coast scenery in Great Britain. An unpunctual train having 

 delayed the arrival of the leader. Rev. E. Maule Cole, M.A., in Whitby, on his 

 appearance at the rendezvous, Whitby Pier, an immediate start was made in a 

 northerly direction. Mr. Cole pointed out the dislocation of the strata at this 

 point, arising from a downthrow to the west of about 150 feet. Walking along the 

 sands an immense landslip was noticed, which had occurred so recently as two 

 weeks before. By this immense quantities of drift had been hurled on the beach 

 below. Had time allowed, no doubt some excellent specimens of ice-borne 

 boulders with striae might have been observed. In the drift, a little further on 

 than the landslip, were observed some stratified patches of compact ferruginous 

 sand, which might possibly have filled up hollows, and immediately underlying 

 these was a breccia of angular and sub-angular fragments of rock, chiefly derived 

 from the lias. These would certainly repay a more lengthened and minute study. 

 A detour was then made to the Sandsend Road, where an outcrop of ironstone 

 was pointed out. This impure silicious ironstone, very poor in quality, is the 

 ' Dogger ' at the base of the lower oolites. A heap of cement doggers from the lias 

 was noticed on going down to the beach at Sandsend. The way was now taken at 

 the base of the cliffs towards Kettleness, the vivid colouring of the sections exciting 

 much admiration. It would require the genius of a great painter to adequately 

 pourtray them on canvas, and even then, if faithfully reproduced, the magnificent 

 tints would excite incredulity in those who had not seen the originals. To use the 

 eloquent words of the leader, ' the cliffs on the coast, from Sandsend to Kettleness, 

 present a colouring which is rarely to be met with. Hugh massive yellow sand- 

 stones foi-m the top of the cliff ; below are green-coated slopes of variegated shales, 

 and at the base dark blue and black walls of rock, resting on a level, pearly grey 

 pavement, covered with tangled seaweed. On the shelves of sandstone above, 

 cormorants, gulls, and jackdaws breed and scream; whilst below, numerous caves, 

 enlarged by the waves, show where the workers for jet have been engaged.' The 

 Oct. 1885. 



