298 Sheppard : Yorkshire Naturalists at North Grimston. 



The more interesting- plants found in the hedge-rows and 

 banks were Berberis vulgaris, Daphne Laureola, Helianthemum 

 vulgatu??i, and Galium verum. Equally striking- was the domi- 

 nance of the Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus) in the pastures. 

 Evidence of its abundance was shown by the boots of the 

 members, which were yellow with its pollen. In one spot was 

 seen a considerable quantity of Colchicum autumnale ; other 

 species frequently occurring- were Orchis mascula, O. morio, 

 Listera ovata, Ophioglossiun vulgatum, and Botrychium lunaria. 



A very interesting- association was seen in Leys Wood, with 

 its stiff clayey soil. Over a considerable area the trees were 

 almost entirely Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), their earlier ' nurses ' of 

 Pine, Spruce, and Larch having- long- been cut down. The under- 

 growth was a pink carpet of Lychnis diurna, and showing 

 conspicuously in it were, here and there, small clumps with 

 white flowers. The less showy but common plants associated 

 with the Lychnis were Geum urbanum, G. rivale, and their 

 hybrid G. rivale x urbanum was plentiful, with many interesting- 

 states. Here, too, were Hypericum hirsutum, Sanicula europcea, 

 Conium maculatum, CirccEa hitetiana, Galium aparine, Ajuga 

 reptans, Lastrcea Filix-mas, and Athyrium Filix-foemina. 



A pleasant item in the day's programme was the visit to 

 Birdsall Park, with its fine old trees— Yews, Limes, Oaks, and 

 Sycamores — and the well-kept gardens near the hall. Under the 

 guidance of the head gardener and the forester, ably assisted by 

 Mr. Slater, so much of interest w T as shown to the members that 

 all felt that time was too short to do it justice. 



Mr. Win. Ingham, B.A., has supplied the following report 

 on the work of the bryologists. He points out that the mosses 

 found during the day indicate a good moss district, and one 

 worthy of a careful examination at different times of the year : — 

 ' On the rocky station side at North Grimston grow Tortula 

 muralis, the rare moss Barbula convoluta var. Sardoa B.&S., 

 identical with the same species growing at Barkston and on the 

 Great Orme's Head ; and Encalypta vulgaris Hedw., still retain- 

 ing its extinguisher-like calyptras. 



On an Elder bush in Leys Wood, Mr. Slater found the 

 pretty little Orthotrichum pule helium Sm., and in the same wood 

 grow the following mosses : — Eurhynchium striatum B.&S., E. 

 prcelongum B.&S., B r achy thee ium pur um Dixon, B. rutabulu?7i 

 B.&S., in 'fruit' ; Hypnum cuspidatum L., in 'fruit' ; Fissidens 

 taxifolius Hedw., on stiff clay banks ; Mnium punctatum L., 

 Bryum capillare L. , and Amblysteginm serpens B.&S., in ' fruit' 



Naturalist, 



