THE LAST DECADE. 
391 
explanation of the discovering of the cave, and briefly described its 
contents 80 far as they were known. After partaking of luncheon, 
provided by Air. John Brigg, the party walked to Skipton, and a 
meeting was held at the Devonshire Anns, at which Mr. "Walter 
Morrison, J.P., presided. At this meeting it was decided to make 
tlie following addition to Rule VI., viz. : That members may compound 
for their annual subscriptions and become life members on payment 
of six guineas. 
At a succeeding meeting of the Cojincil it was considered 
desirable that steps should be taken to secure a thorough investigation 
of the Raygill fissure and its contents, and Professors Green and 
Miall, and Alessrs. Brigg and Davis were appointed a committee, 
and empowered to collect subscriptions, to make necessary arrange- 
ments, and to carry out tlie exploration. It was further decided that 
any specimens which should be found during the exploration should 
be deposited in the Museum at the Philosophical Hall at Leeds. 
Early in the following year, 1880, a circular Avas issued to the luem- 
bers, with the result that sixty pounds was speedily subscribed, and 
on June 7th, Mr. Spencer placed at the disposal of the committee, 
workmen skilled in the class of work required, and instructed his 
manager, Mr. 4\)(ld, to give every assistance that he was able. The 
work was carried on energetically during the remaining part of the 
year, and a report was presented at the next annual meeting. The 
fissure, which occurs in an anticlinal of limestone, was formerly open 
to the surface, and from thence extended in a southerly direction, 
and with only a sliglit inclination from the vertical line. It had been 
repeatedly cut across during quarrying operations, each exposure 
being at a lower level and exhibiting some new feature of the clays 
and sands, with which it was filled. When the Society began opera- 
tions the fissure opened into the face of the quarry towards the north, 
the limestone dipping at a sharp angle into the hill southwards. 
The diameter of the fissure was about nine feet, and it was situated 
sixty feet below the surface of the ground, and about the same 
distance above the floor of the quarry. The contents of the fissure 
consisted mainly of three strata. The uppermost one was composed 
of fine, unctuous, laminated clay, of a blueish colour, which turned 
