MORTIMER: BRITISH HABITATION'S OX DAXBY NORTH MOOR. 413 
true size and shape would not be ascertained. No antiquary would 
wish to remain in the interior of the pits all the time the work was 
going on ; therefore an experienced workman should be employed — 
of course under proficient supervision. Your knowledge of this 
kind of work for over forty years, and my experience (without 
any theory to support) for more than thirty years, should be some- 
thing better than tampering with the pits. The next generation 
even may not be able to supply much longer experience than ours 
in this matter. Again apologising for the trouble I have given you, 
" I remain, 
" Yours truly, 
"J. R. Mortimer." 
After this refusal I thought that the next best thing would 
be to revisit and carefully examine the pits, in company with 
my friend, the Rev. E. M. Cole, F.G.8., of Wetwang, whose 
knowledge of earthw^orks in general is well known. On July 8th, 
1896, Mr. Cole and I visited these pits, and the following is 
Mr. Cole's opinion : — 
"On July 8th, 1896, I accompanied m}- friend, Mr. J. R. 
Mortimer, to make an inspection of the pits on Danby North Moor. 
By an unaccountable order of Lord Downe, the owner of the manor, 
we were debarred from making any excavation, which is the only 
possible method of obtaining a correct result. Seeing that the pits 
in question are on an open moor, far from any human habitation, it 
seems absurd to suppose that any harm could be done by emptying 
a few of them of' the sludge which in course of ages has collected 
in them, for the purely scientific purpose of trying to ascertain 
their origin. But I do not wish to blame his Lordship ; I think 
he has been unwisely influenced, and would withdraw his opposition 
were the matter laid properly before him. 
" The difficulty was to find the pits. From Danby Station 
you must first find your way to Beacon Hill, X.E. This is easy 
enough. Then a mile away over ling and heather, N. by E., you 
must direct your course for three ' howes,' which stand on a 
ridge between two hollows on either side excavated by incipient 
