CUTTRISS : 
NOTES ON THE CAVES OF YORKSHIRE. 
437 
High Birkwith Cave, which terminates in a deep pool, the roof 
apparently dipping under the surface at the far end. In the 
notes made at the time of visit I do not find any suggestion as 
to ^the cause of this pool being formed. There may be a 
stalagmitic dam holding back the water, and if tlie pool was 
drained it might be possible to penetrate further. Brow Gill 
Cave, which receives the water from Calf Hole, a quarter of 
a mile away, can be explored with less discomfort than most 
of the others. It affords a variety of experiences and mild 
excitements, and about loO yards from the entrance a waterfall 
30 feet high is reached. Although the fall itself cannot be 
climbed, . a fairly easy way up the rocks may be found, and b}^ 
crawling along an old channel the top of the fall can be reached 
and the passage beyond explored for some distance, until progress 
is barred in the usual manner by the lowering of the roof. It is 
almost invariably the case that where a waterfall occurs an old 
channel will be found which affords a means of passing the obstacle. 
In channels at or near the top of a bed of rock, the lime- 
stone is cut into long thin vertical ribs, the edges of which are 
frequently as sharp as knives. Examples of this description of 
erosion may be seen in Brow Gill Cave, also Douk Cave, in 
Chapel-le-dale, but it occurs to a greater or less extent in most 
caves. When the passages are cut through a series of thin 
strata, such as exist at the top of the main mass of limestone, 
these stand out in horizontal slabs with keen edges similar to 
the vertical ribs. 
The writer only knows at present of three caves in the 
whole district in which it is possible to complete the journey 
from daylight to daylight, viz. : — Short Drop Cave on Leek Fells, 
which empties into Gable Pot; Rowten and Jingling Caves, 
Kingsdale, which unite and terminate in Rowten Pot ; and Long 
Churn, communicating with Alum Pot in Ribblesdale. It will 
be noticed these all terminate in pot-holes. It might be possible, 
with the expenditure of considerable time and labour, not 
unattended with danger, to force a way through from Far Douk 
into Douk Cave (Chapel-le-dale), and from Calf Hole to Brow 
