300 Sheppard : Yorkshire Naturalists at North Grimston. 



In the regrettable absence of the appointed leader, the Rev. 

 E. M. Cole, M.A. , F.G.S., the leadership of the geological section 

 devolved upon Mr. J. W. Stather, F.G.S., president of the Hull 

 Geological Society. In consequence of the somewhat limited 

 train service, the members from Hull arrived upon the scene 

 two hours before the remainder of the party, but this time was 

 profitably spent by going to North Grimston and examining 

 the very interesting- exposures in the Coralline Oolite. In 

 the section near the railway station, which is quarried for 

 lime burning - , a pronounced dip in the strata was observed, 

 thoug-h apparently this was only a local feature. The quarry- 

 men had saved one or two interesting- fossils, including- a very 

 fine Shark's tooth. On the arrival of the train from the west the 

 party, which was favoured with the presence of the President 

 of the Union, Mr. P. F. Kendall, F.G.S., and several students 

 from the Yorkshire College, proceeded to Burdale Station, and 

 during- the day saw some most beautiful examples of charming- 

 wold scenery. Following- the valley towards Thixendale the 

 members proceeded to Aldro, and from thence a bee-line was 

 taken to Birdsall Brow and North Grimston. The sculpturing 

 of the dales and their present configuration g-ave rise to much 

 discussion during- the ramble. It was pointed out how obvious 

 it was that some of the dales had been formed 'at two goes.' 

 The gradual slopes at the top are suddenly changed to steep 

 slopes, and these latter form the sides of the lower part of the 

 dales. Near the village of Thixendale, on the shoulder of a 

 hill, was a very extensive deposit of 'grut,' or chalk rain-wash, 

 which consisted entirely of angular fragments of chalk and flint, 

 and was entirely devoid of foreign stones. The deposit is 

 situated at a good height from the valley bottom and apparently 

 must have originally been kept in position by some solid body, 

 such as a glacier, occupying the floor of the dale. At Aldro 

 the members halted at the tumulus which was thought by 

 John Phillips to be a 'Rath' or 'meeting-place.' The barrow 

 is remarkable on account of the very excellent earthwork 

 thrown round it, which is still preserved, and the structure is 

 situated at an angle in one of the entrenchments for which 

 the wolds are so well known. Mr. Mortimer has proved by 

 excavation that the mound is a grave. From this position a 

 glorious view of the surrounding country could be obtained, 

 and within easy access are nearly all the Jurassic rocks, though 

 unfortunately good sections are very rare. As the Rev. E. M. 

 Cole pointed out on the excursion circular, it seemed almost 



Naturalist, 



