176 



YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS IN LOWER WENSLEYDALE. 



coYeiy that some mischieYOUs vertebrates had devoured the candies 

 necessary for exploration. When a fresh supply was obtained, the 

 party entered it by two at a time to inspect the interior : the entrance 

 is only 4 ft. 4 in. wide by 4 ft. high, but inside it is ft. high and 

 5 ft. to 7 ft. wide. The lower part of the cave, when discovered,, 

 was filled with clay, the upper part with cave-earth and stones, and 

 throughout were found teeth and bones of animals, also some 

 charcoal. At the bottom of the cave there is a fissure varying from 

 7 in. to 12 in. wide, filled with clay : in this, bones were also found. 

 Inside the cave likewise were found broken pieces of slightly-burnt 

 pottery — some only dried — and several millstone grit rubbing-stones. 

 At the keepers lodge a detour was made to the left by a few knights 

 of the hammer to visit the Black Flags Quarrv', when they were 

 gravely informed by the workmen it was the only one of the kind in 

 England ! Here the ' main hmestone ' is quarried extensively, which 

 is overlaid by some extremely variable beds. Some are impure, 

 earthy limestones ; others hard, irregularly bedded sandstones ; whilst 

 others again are sandstones of a flaky, micaceous character. Some 

 l)eds are very fissile, and intensely hard and durable ; they are thus 

 well adapted for roofing and flagging purposes. Some large slabs, 

 five or six ft. square, were noted as having been obtained from this 

 quarry. The beds are in places very bituminous. The hungry 

 geologists now made a determined attack upon the resources of the 

 ' Golden Lion' Hotel, with marked success, after which an adjourn- 

 ment was made to the Public Hall, where Prof Green, with 

 celerity, disposed of the business of the General Meeting. 



The evening was far too fine for indoor debate, and moreo\"er 

 a splendid section remained to be seen at the Harmby Limestone 

 Quarries, about a mile east of I>eyburn. Thither the section departed, 

 to work until the time approached for return. Here there is a truly 

 imposing section of the 'main chert," or upper portion of the 'main 

 limestone, or what is locally known as the 'red beds,' exposed. The 

 latter name is owing to the limestone having a reddish hue in many 

 places, from oxidation. It is very massive and cr)-stalline, presenting, 

 when weathered, a very coarse exterior ; this, under a lens, showmg 

 an infinite multiplicity of broken crinoids and shells. Mr. Home 

 has obtained many of his most beautiful fossils at this quarry. The 

 fossils contain, amongst others, teeth and spines of fishes, and several 

 specimens were obtained. On the return to Leyburn Station, Mr. 

 Home showed to the members a fine glaciated surface of limestone; 

 he has had it carefully preserved, and properly too, for it is easy of 

 access, and the stria; on the surface are well defined. They are in 

 an easterly direction, showing clearly the direction of the glacier 



Naturalist, 



