YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT SEDBERGH. 283 



east by the great Pennine fault, and brought against the Coniston 

 Grits of the Upper Silurian of Barbon and Middleton Fells. The 

 geological section (which was well attended) under the guidance of 

 Mr. J. W. Davis, F.G.S., F.S.A., also benefited by the experience of 

 the Rev. G. Crewdson, of Kendal, and the topographical knowledge 

 of Mr. Wadeson, of Sedbergh. The Rev. J. H. Mackie, of Sedbergh 

 Grammar School (whose absence was much regretted) had sent down 

 to the White Hart Hotel a box containing specimens of the rocks of 

 the district, many of them containing typical fossils, and these were 

 carefully inspected before proceeding on the excursion ; they had 

 been obtained from the Coniston grits, shales, and limestone. The 

 party now set off, passing through the hamlet of Milnthorpe, leaving 

 which, the path over tlie moors was taken, over the Riggs and 

 Frostrow Fells ; en rojite several small quarries were seen of the 

 Coniston Grits, which are hard siliceous grits and sandy slates. 

 These have been correlated with the Denbighshire flags and grits of 

 the Wenlock series (Upper Silurian). The Riggs are formed by an 

 anticHnal, for on ascending the dip was noticed to be N.N.W., but 

 on passing over it was found to be S.W, The rough stone walls are 

 generally worth examining by geologists, from the fact that their 

 weathered sides often disclose good fossils ; these received due 

 attention as far as time would permit, but without much result. 

 They were nearly all built of the Coniston grits, but here and there 

 were noticed blocks of millstone grit, which, as was suggested, may 

 have been brought into the valleys from Baugh Fell and other hills 

 by glacial action. Following the path, the steep hill of Helm Knott 

 was seen ; the way for some distance led over boggy peaty ground, 

 and although the present surface was treeless, yet here and there roots 

 and stumps of large trees, black with age, were noted partly buried 

 in the peat. The ascent of Helm Knott was now made, for the 

 splendid view which stretched all around. To the west and north- 

 west were seen the fells around Kendal and Shap, whilst behind 

 towered the hills of Cumberland and Westmorland ; beginning with 

 Coniston Old Man, summit after summit followed rapidly to the 

 northward. Right in front were the lofty, rounded heights of 

 Howgill Fells, which owe their contour chiefly to glacial action. 

 The valley of the Rawthey was seen, bounded on the east by the 

 mighty mass of Baugh Fell ; then a splendid view of the charming 

 valley of Dent was obtained, with the pleasant little town of that 

 name far below. The hills of Rysell, Whernside, and Gragreth 

 were pointed out, the view closing with the steep slopes of the 

 Middleton Fells. The day was particularly fine and clear, the 

 sunlight being brilliant without haze; thus each point in the majestic 

 landscape appeared in sharp relief Mr. Davis also pointed out in 



Sept. 1887. 



