BAHDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



in 



When beekeepers are standing near hives, single 

 bees very frequently make close examination of the 

 intruder. I am constantly the object of their close 

 attention. Perhaps the little examiner is but passing 

 away a spare moment by way of recreation, probably, 

 mistrustful, he is warning me to give his home and 

 friends a wider berth. First he buzzes within an inch 

 of one eye, then visits its fellow, then makes a tour 

 of inspection, sounding his trumpet first in one ear, 

 then in the other, his observations being almost en- 

 tirely confined to the head. When I hear his 

 threatening buzz, knowing that he is not to be trifled 

 with, and wishing to spare his life, I close my eyes 

 and remain quite stationary, and, after awhile, my 

 little friend, seeing that he has nothing to fear, settles 

 usually upon my face, sometimes the lobe of an ear, 

 more frequently the tip of my nose, and after a few 

 preliminary brushings up pursues his peaceful way, 

 and I mine. We have become better acquainted, 

 and he is far less likely to trouble me on any future 

 occasion, whereas a timid person would, by his frantic 

 fears, provoke a catastrophe. His terror may perhaps 

 be excused, when it is remembered that the dislike is 

 probably mutual ; bees' antipathy to particular indi- 

 viduals being as remarkable as their liking for others, 

 and, whilst some persons may handle them with im- 

 punity, there are others who dare not venture within 

 yards of their hives without being attacked. That 

 the odour of some persons, not perhaps in itself un- 

 pleasant, may yet be disliked by the bees, is the most 

 reasonable explanation of the strange facts that can 

 be offered. 



Swalcliffe, Banbury, Oxon. 



ARTISTIC GEOLOGY. 



Ffestiniog and its Neighbourhood. 



By T. Mellard Reade, F.G.S., &c. 



IN addition to its reputation for picturesque 

 scenery, and the soft beauties of its vale, 

 Ffestiniog is a very good centre for the geological 

 student. Situated on a sort of promontory between 

 two valleys, the Cynfael and the Dvvyryd, at a 

 sufficient elevation to maintain a bracing atmosphere, 

 the mind and body retain that elasticity which 

 makes mountain scenery so enjoyable. At the same 

 time, those whose delight is the investigation of 

 nature can fully gratify their cravings. I will 

 proceed to describe some of the geological problems 

 which force themselves upon the notice of the 

 thoughtful mind. 



SURFACE FEATURES. 



The grand flank of Moelwyn, perhaps the finest 

 mountain of its height I have ever seen, is to my 

 mind of more interest than the much, if not over, 

 praised vale. It can be seen at one view from base 



to summit. The river Dwyryd runs deep below you 

 at the bottom of the vale, while Moelwyn rises from 

 a tree-covered breastwork of hills in a great and 

 serried scarp from Tan-y-Bwlch to Blaenau Ffestiniog 

 slate quarries. Its beauty, to my mind, is its variety, 

 the contrast between the ornamental nature of its 

 foreground of hills, and the steep treeless scarp of its 

 main mass. Facing the south-east, it changes much 

 under the varying light of the sun, now lighted up in 

 every detail of its structure, and anon a vast mystery 

 of gloom. A descent from the village of Ffestiniog 

 to the Dwyryd down a steep foot walk gives us some 

 very picturesque views. The vale is well wooded. 

 We cross the river by a foot-bridge, noticing, by the 

 way, some well-rounded boulders in the river bed.. 

 Ascending the other bank we strike the main road 

 which skirts a deep and picturesque ravine thickly 

 timbered. Arriving at the turnpike, we turn towards 

 Tan-y-Grisiau, noticing a large bank of drift which 

 lies near the fork of two streams, one of which 

 rises in Cwm Orthin, the other nearer the slate 

 quarries of Blaenau. The road to Tan-y-Grisiau 

 skirts the former stream, in which are two very 

 picturesque falls. The lower fall is crossed by a 

 bridge just above it. Passing over this, with some 

 climbing through ferns and heath, and over walls 

 ascending the right bank of the stream, we get a very 

 beautiful view of this upper fall. The rock here is 

 part of a large mass of intrusive Syenite forming Moel 

 Tan-y-Grisiau, and the stream has cut back a deep 

 gorge into it. Further along, the stream can be again 

 crossed by another bridge near to Tan-y-Grisiau. At 

 the Tan-y-Grisiau station of the narrow gauge or 

 "Toy" railway we begin the ascent of Moelwyn. 

 Skirting the railway and ascending a footpath, not 

 very difficult climbing, we reach Llyn Trwstyllon, a 

 cwm lying under the great scarped face of Moelwyn. 

 The rocks at the open part of the cwm slope towards 

 the lake. The dip is iS° north-west. It appears to be 

 striated south-east, but very faintly. The surface of the 

 rock is much broken up in places since the glaciation. 

 The cwm is a very perfect cup, broken through on 

 the south-east side. The scenery is very fine. A steep 

 ascent of green turf-covered slope brings us on to the 

 back of Moelwyn. The remainder of the ascent is 

 up what appears from below a small hillock, but 

 develops into a mountain when you get on to it. It 

 is very steep and grass-covered, sheep grazing up to 

 the very top. A magnificent view rewarded our 

 exertions, the weather being delightfully bright and 

 clear, and the light breeze exhilarating. I have been 

 up many mountains, but never saw a finer view than 

 that to the north-west over Snowdon. I preserved my 

 impressions in a sketch taken at the time, in which 

 the mountain forms are reproduced in outline. It 

 represents a grand series of mountains rising in a low 

 but sublime pyramidal mass culminating in the peak 

 of Snowdon. The hollow of Llyn Llydaw, the entrance 

 to the pass of Llanberis, and the Glyders, and other 



