228 



folium) with its white-robed head of seed waving in the wind, and tempting 



you to gather it — if yoix dare — for no sooner do you get near it than down sinks 



the treacherous Sphagnum, and the blaek water covers your boots with 



threatening rapidity. Thanks to these masses of moss, however, for upon 



them grew the pretty round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotutidi/olia. ) This 



interesting little plant derives its name from the fact of the long red hairs 



which'grow from the upper surface and edges of its leaves, supporting, each 



one of them, a drop of clear fluid, like dew. It is ever present in the hottest 



and most sunny days, if, indeed, it is not more abundant then — 



" By the lone fountain's secret bed, 

 Where human footsteps rarely tread. 

 Mid the wild meor, or silent glen. 

 The Sundew blooms nnseen by men ; 

 Spreads there her leaf of rosy hue, 

 A chalice for the morning dew, 

 And ere the summer's sun can rise, 

 Drinks the pure waters of the skies." 



Two couples of wild ducks, starting suddenly up from the bog, put to flight all 

 poetic fancies and recalled attention to the setting sun. Guided by Mr. David 

 Griffith, whose attentions to the visiting naturalists call for marked com- 

 mendation, the descent was rapidly made over walls and hedges and ditches, 

 down charming meadows, and through one dense thicket to the Werntoe 

 dingle, where in the dark Wenlock shale, which the brook has exposed to 

 view, the Ampyx nudus is said to abound. It was too late, however, the 

 shades of evening were quickly deepening, and in its recesses on the present 

 occassion only a few fragments were discovered. In this progress it became 

 evident that some varieties of bramble were to be found about Builth, and 

 the President formed an acquaintance with Ruhus Kahhri, too close to be 

 agreeable. Passing by the pool and grounds of Pencerrig, the march was 

 taken to Builth, and head quarters fixed at the Lion hotel. 



Here it may be as well to pause and look round upon the town of Builth 

 itself, and note its curiosities and antiquities. 



BUILTH. 



This town, by the consent of all tourists, is beautifully situated, in one 

 of the most salubrius and picturesque vales in Gwalia. On the south it is 

 bounded by a spur of the Epynt, a hill made classic by its "Bugeiliaid" 

 shepherds in the writings of the late Brutus of Llandovery. On the east 

 the pyramidical Garth and the pasture lands of Kadnorshire appear. On the 

 north the famed Llanelwedd and Penmaenau rocks stand like faithful 

 sentinels to temper the northern blast, while the cultivated fields and 

 picturesque plantations of Llanelwedd HaU and Wellfield seem to rejoice in 

 their protection. Yonder, on the west, are knolly and undulated lands, 

 resting on the banks of the Irfon and Chwefry, stretching far off to the 

 Llanwrtyd, Abergwesyn, and Uanowen Hills, known by the name of 

 Maelienydd, one of the wildest and least known parts of Britain, and may be 

 called "the great desert of Wales." Giraldus calls them EUenydd — in early 



