44 



this was the leaves of a " Slirew-ash," growing in consecrated ground. Gilbert 

 White, in his " Selborne," mentions a Shrew-ash which was regarded with great 

 veneration, growing "at the south corner of the plestor, or area near the church." 

 "The Shrew-ash is made thus," he says :—" Into the body of the tree a hole 

 was bored with an auger, and a poor devoted shrew mouse was thrust in alive, 

 and plugged in, no doubt with several quaint incantations long since forgotten." 



The Cwm-ffrwdor joins lower down the " Cwm-nant-ddu," on the valley 

 of the black stream, and the brooks unite to form the Avon-llwyd, or the gray 

 river, which runs through Pontnewynydd and Pontypool. 



At Pontnewynydd all the forges were out and the buildings deserted, and 

 but for the bold chimney which bears bravely its misfortune, the whole works 

 would look ruinous. Leaving the enormous mounds of shale thrown out from 

 the works in the Cwm-nant-ddu, and passing many rows of white-washed 

 cottages, Pontypool was soon reached. Here again the tin-plate works were 

 deserted, and that enormous steam-hammer, which formerly beat night and day 

 incessantly, was silent. How the night's rest of the good people at Pontypool 

 must have been disturbed when it ceased to lull them to sleep ! The town 

 seemed unusually quiet, which might have been due to the closed works, but 

 more probably to the time of day. The strong body of naturalists, however, 

 created some little sensation, and the wonder ran, what was it all about ? A 

 welcome was ready at the " Three Cranes," and good preparation had been made 

 in the spacious room there. Whilst some few take a stroll in the beautiful park 

 of Pontypool, and others try to get rid of the dust, we will take the opportunity 

 of teUiug who they were. 



The members of the Woolhope Club present were — Dr. M'CuUough, the 

 president; the Rev. H. C. Key and Jas. Rankin, Esq., M.A., vice-presidents; 

 Phillips Be van, Esq., J.G.S., &c., and Edwin Lees, Esq., F.L.S., &c., honorary 

 membtrs ; John Edward Lee, Esq., F.G.S., &c.. The Priory, Caerleon ; R. 

 Lightbody, Esq., Ludlow; the Rev. Berkeley L. Stanhope; Elmes Y. Steele, 

 Esq., Abergavenny ; Dr. Bull ; Arthur Armitage, Esq.; the Rev. E. Du Buisson ; 

 T. Cam, Esq. ; the Rev. F. Merewether ; the Rev. E. Malleson ; the Rev. R. H. 

 Williams ; Wm. Aston, Esq. ; the Rev. J. H. Jukes ; J. Jancey, Esq. ; the Rev. 

 T. West; C. H. Gardiner, Esq.; George Cocking, Esq., Ludlow ; D. R. Harrison, 

 Esq. ; the Rev. J. E. Jones ; John Lambe, Esq. ; E. Cowtan, Esq. ; C. G. Martin, 

 Esq.; Alfred Purchas, Esq.; Dr. Davies, Abei-sychan ; T. G.Matthews, Esq., 

 Ludlow; Edward Jones, Esq.,Varteg; Mr. John Andrews; and Mr. Arthur 

 Thompson. 



The Cardiff Naturalists' Society was represented by the President, Wm. 

 Adams, Esq. ; Professor Gagliardi ; J. Millward, Esq. ; the Rev. J. H. Protheroe; 

 Dr. Taylor, Cardiff ; Peter Price, Esq. ; George Thomas, Esq. ; the Rev. E. Cook ; 

 G. W. Penn, Esq. ; George White, Esq. ; the Rev. G. K. Meaby ; John Morgan, 

 Esq. ; R. W. Boyle, Esq. ; Charles Truscott, Esq. ; Richard Hill, Esq. ; and 

 Edward Brown, Esq., Mountain Ash, 



