32 
during which portion of its course it is joined by numerous inconsider- 
able feeders. Above Ganton, it receives the Hartford river, which rises 
in the immediate vicinity of Filey. Afterwards, it turns towards the west, 
and forms, for the greater part of the remainder of its course, the south- 
ern boundary of the riding. At Newstead, it receives a rivulet from 
Ellerburn and Thornton. Above Malton, it directs its course towards the 
southwest, and is joined by the Eye — a river which is formed by the 
union of numerous small streams of considerable length, which rise 
amongst the -moorlands on the North; each of which flows down a dale 
for the early part of its course, and then descends into the level country 
of the vale of Pickering. From east to west in order of succession are, 
the Hole of Horcurn, (in which grows Gornus suecica,) Newtondale, Bose- 
dale, Farndale, Brantsdale, Bilsdale, and Snailesworth, with several others 
of lesser extent. The vale of Pickering contains the towns of Helmsley, 
Kirby-Moorside, Malton, and Pickering, and the abbeys of Bievaulx and 
Byland. An eastern branch from Byland and Ampleforth, aud another 
from Hovingham and Slingsbyjoin the Eye near Brawby. Below Barton, 
the Derwent receives a further augmentation from the Howardian hills, 
which rises near Bransby, not far from the head of the Foss. At Helms- 
ley, about five miles north-east of York, it directs it course due south, 
and entirely leaves the north riding. 
Surface. — The summit of drainage along the Hambleton Hills on the 
west, and the watershed between the Derwent and the Esk, with lateral 
ridges of surface between several of the dales, are included in the middle 
zone. The whole of the remainder of this extensive district, sloping 
towards the east and the south-west, belongs to the lower zone. 
Structure. — The level district called the vale of Pickering, extending 
from Filey on the sea-coast to Kirby-Moorside and nearly to Helmsley on 
the west, consists of Kimmeridge clay strata. Eound these, embracing 
the southern portion of the moorlands, and extending through the level 
country to the Derwent below Malton, occur upper oolitic deposits. The 
next in succession, occupying the surface of the summit of drainage on 
the north and west, and a district in the level country to the south of that 
last mentioned, are oolites of an earlier era. Below these is a narrow band 
belonging to the lias period, and south of all a small portion of the great 
central vale. 
