4 DEVONSHIRE. 



the Torridge, the descent to which is almost precipitous; 

 amongst the furze bushes on this steep slope the webs of 

 JButalis grandipeyinis are in the early months of the year 

 very conspicuous. From its elevated position, you get at 

 Torrington a pure thin air, and as the river takes a curve 

 you look along the valley in two directions, besides getting 

 other extensive views. 



The Tamar and the Tavy I have never seen, but I gather 

 from what I have heard that the climate of Plymouth is the 

 most rainy in all Devonshire. 



On a cold day early in April I paid my first and only 

 visit to the Dart, descending from Totness nearly to Dart- 

 mouth in a rowing-boat and returning by the steam-boat. 

 The season was an unusually early one, as many of the oaks 

 had a sprinkling of green leaves ; but I can well believe that 

 when the trees are in full leaf the scenery of this river must 

 be very beautiful. The walls of the old castle at Totness 

 were gay with the pure yellow, wild wall-flower, and in the 

 neighbouring thicket the pleasant-looking, but foul-smelling, 

 Allium ursinum grew in profusion. 



Torquay is one of those places to be revisited again and 

 again; the walk along the cliffs on the northern side of the 

 bay affording a rich treat of varied and extensive views both 

 of land and sea. My last visit in Devonshire was in the 

 neighbourhood of Teignmouth, on the slope of the hill im- 

 mediately above that town on the road to Dawlish. In one 

 direction the view looked over the Ness on the south side of 

 the mouth of the Teign, and alono- the coast of Babbacombe 

 Bay ; the Orestone lying off the mouth of Torbay, standing 

 out well in the distance ; thus embracing fields, woods, cliffs, 

 downs, rocks and sea— certainly a pleasant prospect from 

 one's drawing-room vrindow. 



