221 
YORKSHIRE NATURALISTS AT FILEY. 
(plate XXI.). 
That historic Filey is an attractive place for one of the Union’s 
excursions was well evidenced by the excellent attendance of 
members, forty in number, who sojourned there over the 
week-end, devoting the Whitsuntide recess to the investigation 
of the natural history of the neighbourhood. Eleven years 
have passed since the Union paid its last visit to this pretty 
coastal resort, and by singular coincidence on exactly the 
same dates. That occasion marked a record for the Monday’s 
excursion, which still remains unbeaten. On the present 
occasion there was a good influx of members on the Monday, 
but somehow the majority failed to appreciate the fact that 
provision had been made for a tea at headquarters. 
There is an attractiveness about Filey which appeals to 
the nature lover ; excellent working ground for all tastes ; 
quietude ; and scenic beauty. 
Officially representation was good, there being present 
the President, Mr. Thomas Sheppard, Mr. Harold Wager 
and Mr. G. T. Porritt (Past Presidents), Miss Johnstone, Mr. 
J. J. Burton, Mr. J. W. Stather, and the Secretaries. 
On Saturday morning all parties met at the seaward end of 
the Ravine. The geologists, under the guidance of Mr. 
J. W. Stather and the president, devoted their time to an 
examination of the famous rock mass known as the ‘ Brig.’ 
The fossiliferous beds which belong to the upper part of the 
lower calcareous grit received much attention. The boulders 
were especially worthy of study. An examination was also 
made of the caves in the headland of Carr Naze, locally called 
the ‘ Doodles,’ and a visit was paid to the site of what is 
believed to be the old Roman Lighthouse, the ‘ kitchen mid- 
dens ’ in its immediate vicinity, and what now remains of the 
old Spa Well which brought Filey into vogue as a fashionable 
resort close upon a century ago. The botanists, guided by 
Mr. J. F. Robinson, spent their time in the lower part of the 
Primrose Valley, and along the undercliff close by. 
On Sunday a large party paid a visit to the wold country. 
The route taken was through Muston to Flixton, at which 
place an examination was made of an interesting ‘section 
showing the junction of the Lower and Middle Chalk. Pro- 
ceeding up the hill an excellent view was obtained of the Vale 
of Pickering, the glacial features of which were explained by 
Mr. Stather. Dr. Woodhead pointed out the vegetation 
features relative to the peculiar topography of the area 
traversed. One of the most striking features was the special 
type of vegetation of the dry valleys, which are themselves 
very curiously shaped, having distinct slopes, and dry bottorhs, 
1914 July 1 
