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ON THE EXPLORATION OF THE RAYGILL FISSURE IN LOTHERSDALE, 
YORKSHIRE. BY JAMES W. DAVIS, F.G.S. 
The Raygill Fissure, in the mountain limestone in Lothersdale, 
about five miles south-east of Skipton, was investigated to some 
extent by a Committee of the Society, and a report was presented by 
the Committee, and printed in the Annual Report for 1883. The 
fissure descended in a slightly diagonal direction in the form of a 
pothole from the surface to a depth of about 120 feet, and of this 
depth the lower 90 feet has been dug out and thoroughly examined, 
resulting in the discovery of numerous bones of animals, particulars 
of which are recorded in the report referred to above. The specimens 
are deposited in the Museum of the Philosophical and Literary 
Society at Leeds. Towards the close of 1883 it was found that the 
fissure assumed a more or less horizontal direction, and the work of 
excavation was rendered very difficult and laborious by the position 
of a large mass of limestone in front of the fissure, constituting at 
that time the face of the quarry. This obstruction the proprietor of 
the quarry very kindly engaged to remove, and operations were sus- 
pended to enable this to be done. 
Since 1883 the face of the limestone has been quarried and the 
obstructing mass of limestone removed, and during the present summer 
operations have been renewed on the fissure. Its course has been 
traced to a distance of 114 feet, with a gradual declination in a south- 
easterly direction. The present entrance to the fissure is 4 feet wide: 
it diminishes to 2 feet 6 inches, but at a distance of 60 feet expands 
and forms a lofty cave, thence forwards the diameter again dimin- 
ishes. The termination of the fissure, so far as it has been explored, 
appears to receive a tributary extending almost vertically in a north- 
westerly direction. The general direction of the fissure tends towards 
the hill-side, forming the channel of a water course at present run- 
ning at no great distance ; and it is probable that it formerly opened 
into it, although no direct evidence at present exists of the exit. 
Borings have shown the bottom of the fissure to be filled in with clay, 
