Chippings
(The Editor invites contributions to this column on any matter of general interest to Members.)
Sunset Hole:- In the last issue of the Journal, at p. 179, it is stated that neither the stream in Sunset Hole nor that inside Mere Ghyll Hole are known to have been dosed with fluorescein. May I point out that at p. 287 of Vol. xv. of the Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological and Polytechnic Society it is stated that the waters of P 99 (Sunset Hole) have been coloured and found to reappear at P 95a (Hardraw Kin)? H. B.
Speleo-Entomology:- One of the objects of our Club is to promote knowledge concerning Natural History, Archæology, &c.. but it seems to me that in our exploration of caves and pot-holes we have not contributed much to this end, always excepting the Scoska Cave find. I am sure there is much to be learnt as to the animals, insects, &c., that live or hibernate in caves. In Scoska Cave for example, and in other caves, I found last winter the moth Scotoscia Dubitata hibernating, in some caves in considerable numbers. This moth, although not rare and fairly generally distributed, is found in summer only in limited numbers. Edward Newman in his “Natural History of British Moths,” says, the females hibernate and deposit their eggs in the spring, the males being destroyed by the early frosts at the approach of winter. That this is not the case I have proved by the discovery of specimens of both sexes last winter in Scoska Cave, the males numbering about one-third of the whole.
In Sleets Ghyll Cave last October I found one Gonoptera Libatrix, and on the same day, outside the cave, I caught one Heath Moth, Oparabia Filigrammaria. This latter species has not been caught before in Wharfedale.
About Spiders there is no doubt much to be discovered. The Meta Minardi, or Great Cave Spider, has been found in caves in Kingsdale, Chapel-le-Dale, Giggleswick Scars and Grassington; although before last winter it had only been found once before in the West Riding. This Spider is the largest of the Meta species, which comprises three varieties, the other two, Meta Meriano and Meta Segmentata, being very common. C. H.
Hydro-Aeroplanes On Windermere:- It is to be hoped that the outcry raised against the attempt to make use of Windermere as a trial ground for these noisy and uncertain engines of warfare will induce the promoters to transfer their experiments to some place more resembling their future sphere of usefulness, e.g., Morecambe Bay.
Boulder Climbing:- The following account (from the Manchester Guardian) of an accident to a climber on the North Traverse Climb of Cratcliff Tor, near Rowsley, will remind our ‘bouldering’ members that their sport demands ‘eternal vigilance,’ and that the ‘moral’ support of the rope does not, to the judicious critic, detract from the brilliance of a difficult ‘problem’:-
“A short crack or corner of some difficulty leads to a ledge, where the party assembled. From this point the leader, Mr. A., climbed to the right to along ledge extending in that direction, and at the far end of the ledge proceeded up a narrow vertical crack. Finally, standing on a sloping foothold, he reached the top of the rocks with his hands. Just as he was in the act of pulling up, his foot appeared to slip, and he came off and fell a clear forty feet on to the grass below, pitched over on to his head, and rolled another ten feet. He had at the time very nearly forty feet of rope out, and the second man was unable to check his fall in any way.
“This is believed to be the first serious accident that has happened to a member of a roped party on any of the local rocks. Cratcliff Tor is an old and well-known climbing-ground, presenting a steep face of sound, rough gritstone. The North Traverse Climb is an addition of recent years, not many feet to the right of the well-known North Climb; it is considered a difficult climb, but not exceptionally so.”
Swiss Mountain Railways:- The following extract from the Report of the English Branch of the Ligue pour la Conservation de la Suisse Pittoresque (or Heimatschutz, to give it its German name) is of interest to all lovers of the mountains:-
“Heimatschutz is not combating all mountain railways without distinction; it desires to test each case separately, and wherever there exists a justification from the point of view of national economy, it will only intervene for the protection of beauty of Nature. It is, however, opposed to luxus-railways, and more especially to high summit lines, because not only do they desecrate an unreplaceable possession of our fatherland, but they also threaten the vitality of our national character.
“This subject of mountain railways, and especially of freak railways, is nearest to the heart of most of our members, and we welcome this sign of determination and quickened activity because the number of new proposals is in truth appalling.
“It seems not improbable that the line from Brigue to Märjelen See will not attract the financiers; that the Aletsch Glacier line will be made impossible; that instead of a Matterhorn railway there might perhaps be one as far as Schwarz See, and that the Jungfrau line will probably not be allowed to go beyond Jungfrau Joch.”
A Cave In A Museum:- We take the following from the daily press without comment:-
“One of the most unique exhibits ever placed in a museum is being installed in the Carnegie Museum at Pittsburg. It is a replica – in fact, a transplanting, as it were – of a remarkable cave discovered recently near Naginey, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Thousands of beautiful stalagmites and stalactites from the cavern have (says an American paper) been carefully removed, and will be placed in the replica in the museum.
“Parts of the original roof and sides of the cave and much of the peculiar rock formations of the floor will also be put in place. When the work is completed, one of the most beautiful sights to be found in any museum in the land will be presented to the public. The natural cave is some 400 feet long, 60 feet wide, and about 35 feet high. Some of the rock formations hanging from the roof or rearing themselves from the floor were six feet in length.
“One group of forty resembled an organ. These stones were clean and unmarred by stains, and their colours ranged from white, cream, and grey to yellow and chocolate. The loftiest was about 10 feet high. Altogether about 3,000lb. of the beautiful formations were collected for the museum.”
Wild Cats:- Mr. J. M. Archer Thompson, writing to The Spectator, (13th May, 1911), says:-
“With regard to Wales, the writer has explored the mountains for twenty years without discovering any trace of the wild cat, but last month, when climbing down the crags of an unknown precipice and rounding a sharp projecting corner into a trough or gully, he had the unique experience of coming upon a wild cat between two ribs of rock. The animal was about sixteen yards below and as it remained still for some moments before making off down the trough, an excellent view of it was obtained. The colour was fawn on the back, yellow on the tail and white about the belly. To the writer and his companion, Mr. H. M. F. Dodd, the beast appeared very much larger than the domestic cat. For obvious reasons which all naturalists will approve, the locality must not be specified, but the place was hemmed in by precipitous crags and at an altitude of more than 2,000 feet above sea level.”
Anglers’ Inn, Ennerdale:- This well-known hotel was burnt down on the 28th March, 1912.
Three Peak Walk:- We rejoice to learn that the old custom – indeed it was at one time the test of membership – of doing Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent in one day, was revived on the 27th April, 1911, by Messrs. Wi1liamson, Barstow, Waud, F. Chappell, W. V. Brown and Hazard, starting from and returning to Stainforth.
Gaping Ghyll At Whitsuntide, 1911:- Among the visitors taken down were Mr. Sidney Farrer of Ingleborough, Miss Northcote, Miss Margesson, Miss Mabel Buckley, Mr. Jack Buckley (aet. 13), Miss Hilda Wright, Messrs. Wynne-Edwards and Fricker (Leeds Grammar School boys), Mrs. Wynne-Edwards, and Mr. Neumann, F.G S., and Mr. Claughton of the Giggleswick School Staff.
Coronation Bonfire At Ingleborough:- Fifteen members assisted at the firing of this bonfire, but the bad weather completely spoilt the proceedings.
Ski Club Of Great Britain:- We congratulate the Club on its affiliation to this body and regret that the climatic conditions of the last winter did not give members more opportunity of acquiring or perfecting themselves in the art.
Norwegian Tourist Club:- Two of our members, Dr. C. A. Hill and H. Brodrick, are the British secretaries for this club, which every one who climbs in Norway should join, and will be glad to enrol new, or receive subscriptions from, and send the Aarbog, or Club Annual, to existing members.
Mountain Gale:- No one who was out in the wind which raged over the fells on the 5th November, 1911, is likely to forget it. In the current issue of the Rucksack Club Journal there is a vivid description of one party’s experience on Coniston Old Man, and we can vouch for its not being overdrawn. The spray from Goat’s Water was carried like steam to the top of Doe Crags and on the flat ridge between the Old Man and Fairfield it was safest to go on all-fours. Some persons indeed were lifted bodily and carried several yards.
Back Numbers:- These, which are limited in number, can be obtained from the Hon. Librarian (Mr. J. H. Buckley, 168, Wellington Street, Leeds). Price: Nos. 1, 3,4 and 5, 5/- each; No. 2, 10/-; No. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, 2/- each. Specially designed green buckram binding cases for the two volumes, 2s. each. Postage extra.
Tail-Pieces: The tail-pieces are by G. T. Lowe and represent Norber Boulder, (p. 245), Robin Hood’s Bay, (p. 274), Bolton Priory, (p. 287), the West Gate at Bird-Oswald, (p. 290), Bolton Woods, (p. 295), Adel Crag, (p. 297), Jingling Pot, (p. 321), and near Ingleton, (p. 325).