254 YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS IN UPPER NIDDERDALE. 



had been found on the limestone slopes near Manchester Hole, along with Zonites 

 radiatnlus (also an addition to the list for Upper Nidderdale), Z. crystallinns^ 

 Z. cellarius, Z. nitidulus, Clausilia I'ngosa, Helix hispida, H. rotundata, Avion 

 ater, and Limax agrestis, the var. nigra of the latter being noted. 



For the Entomological section its secretary, Mr. G. C. Dennis, of York, 

 reported. Only ten species of Lepidoptera, viz.: — Acidalia remutata. Cabera 

 pusaria, Emmelesia alchemillata, E. albulata, Enpithecia minutata, Melanippe 

 mo7itanaia, Tana 6 ra chcerophyllata, Epunda viminalis, Anarta myrtilli, and 

 Tortrix viburnana, and a few insects of other orders, had been observed. 



For the Botanical section its president, the Rev. William Fowler, M.A., 

 reported that of flowering plants and ferns 146 were noted, the most interesting 

 being Stellaria nemorum, Carduus heterophylhis, Habenaria chlorantha, and 

 Stackys ambi^ua, a hybrid between S. sylvatica and S. palustris. It approaches 

 the former in its reddish-purple flowers, and the latter in its hollow stem, the 

 shortly-stalked leaves being intermediate between the two. 



The Geological section report was submitted by its secretary, Mr. S. A. 

 Adamson, F.G.S. There was a large attendance of geologists, who were guided 

 by Mr. Storey, and Mr. Whincup, of the Scotgate Ash Quarries. In addition, 

 Professor A. H. Green, M. A., F.R.S., was present. On the journey many hummocks 

 or mounds in the valley were noted, probably being composed of" drift or morainic 

 matter left by the glaciers as they receded at the close of the glacial period. No 

 sections were, however, observed to render this conclusive. A short distance 

 before entering the village of Lofthouse a halt was made to note the phenomenon 

 of the Nidd issuing from its underground course, into which it enters about two 

 miles higher up, at Goydon Pot Hole. Of course, the visible bed of the stream is 

 not dry throughout, for it receives the drainage of the mountain sides ; and again, 

 after heavy rainfalls, when the underground channel cannot carry off the water, 

 then the surplus rushes down the old river bed on the surface. Alighting from the 

 waggonettes at Lofthouse, the way was taken up the Blayshaw Gill or Beck among 

 exquisite scenery. Passing up the bed of the stream, the members had an oppor- 

 tunity of seeing one of the finest examples of a fault possible to be seen. By a 

 throw to the south the gritstone is brought against the limestone, and the beck for 

 some distance runs along the line of fault. Some fine specimens of encrinital 

 limestone were here obtained, the weathering having brought the fossil encrinites 

 into sharp relief in every variety of position. Some black shales were examined, 

 which were thought to belong to the Yoredale series. It will be remembered that 

 at Hawes, in Wensleydale, the shales, sandstones, and limestones named by Phillips 

 the Yoredale series attain a thickness of nearly 800 feet ; coming to the south and 

 south-east they gradually diminish at Great Whernside to 150 feet, until above 

 Lofthouse there are only about 20 feet of shales and dark-coloured limestone 

 between the lower scar limestone and the millstone grit. This brings out forcibly 

 the different circumstances under which these strata were deposited, the thick 

 limestone being an oceanic deposit, the shales and sandstones being littoral in their 

 character. Still the beds are very irregular, some going out and others coming in, 

 so that any definite classification is very difficult ; and, indeed, in this district, no 

 absolute horizon can be defined at present, or any arbitrary rule laid down. Mr. 

 Storey pointed out on the bank of the stream the entrance to a cave which he had 

 discovered and had for some distance explored. It may be mentioned that the 

 encrinital limestone in the bed of the beck was intensely hard. A little distance 

 from the beck a quarry of very fossiliferous limestone was examined. This will 

 take a polish, and is sawn into slabs for mantels and other purposes. At a 

 quarry a little farther on, the limestone was of a different character — black, com- 

 pact, and very hard. This is used for roadstone, indeed it most closely resembles 

 the Harrogate roadstone. How Stean Beck, thrown unreservedly open to the 

 visitors by the kindness of Mr. G. Metcalfe, was next visited. Here the beck 

 rushes impetuously through a ravine with vertical walls rising to the height of 

 70 feet or more, whilst the foliage on all sides is superb. This is a very good 

 example of the manner in which a stream running through the limestone and form- 

 ing in some places waterfalls or rapids, is a more powerful agent in denudation 

 that the ordinary action of weathering. Professor Green drew special attention 

 to this, and said that as an example of a canon or ravine, excavated by the grinding 



Naturalist, 



