THREE BAYS IN CAERNARVONSHIRE. 83 



of rocks, ^^variously up-piled/* and tumbled about in the most picturesque 

 confusion. A scene of such a desolate character, jmd at the same time so 

 grand and magnificent in its loneliness can scarcely be surpassed. From 

 the path, winding as it does, sometimes at the bottom of the rocky gorge, 

 and sometimes along the mountain side, exquisite views of the different 

 features of the Pass are obtained; huge grey boulders form the predomi- 

 nating characteristic, the monotony of which is occasionally broken by some 

 silver streamlet tumbling amongst the rocks. For the whole length of the 

 Pass, a distance of three miles, not a tree or shrub is to be seen, but in 

 many places — ■ 



" o'er the jutting rocks soft mosses creep, 



Or coloured lichens with slow oozing weep." 



In the rivulet near the stupendous rock, called Ynys Hettws, (said to 

 have fallen from the side of Y Glyder Fawr,) Fontinalis squamosa occurred 

 in large masses, which darkened the stream, and was much more luxuriant 

 than we meet with it at home. At the same place Grimmia Donniana 

 (in fr.) grows on the rocks, and Diphyscium foliosum is very plentiful 

 throughout the Pass: specimens were procured with stems an inch long^ 

 Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, liacomitrium lanuginosum, fasciculare, and 

 helerostichum, Leucohryum glaucum, Cumpyhpus longipilus, Andrcea alpina 

 and Rothii, Aulocomnion paludre, Bartramia fontana and arcuata, and 

 Uedwigia cillata are comparatively common. We had the pleasure of in- 

 creasing our store by the addition of Bryum elongatum, which grows in 

 the crevices of the rocks near the summit of the Pass, (Gorphwysfa;) and 

 close to the same place we also obtained some fine examples of Andrcea 

 alpina, two inches and a half long, from a wet rock literally covered with 

 this beautiful alpine species. 



From Pen y Gwryd the tourist has a series of views of matchless beauty; 

 on the right the lovely Nant Gwynant, or the Vale of Waters, (the route 

 to Bedgellert;) on the left and behind the cloud-capped mountains, and in 

 front, the Vale of Mymbyr, through which winds the road to Capel Curig, 

 Bryum elongatum and Grimmia Donniana, which we have before noticed, 

 were found in large quantities. Midway between Pen y Gwryd and Capel 

 Curig we had the pleasure to meet with examples of Bryum alpinum, which 

 were rendered doubly valuable by the presence of fruit. Passing through 

 a tract of country — 



"So wondrous fair the whole might seem 

 The scenery of fairy dream," 



before long we came to Capel Curig, halted a short time at the inn 

 for refreshment, and afterwards had a pull on the Llyn, from which we 

 had a fine view of Snowdon, and then proceeded on our route, intending 

 to walk to Bcttws y Coed, and spend the night there. 



