26 



it leaves the hills, and the parish of Aymestrey, altogether behind it. It is ir* 

 the steep hill-sides right and left of these valleys that the quarries and rocks 

 occur in which most of the more remarkable geological features may be noticed. 

 I leave further details on this subject to abler hands than mine ; but 

 I may be allowed to direct your attention to one point which has long struck me. 



In the rock just above the weir at the foot of Grayley Wood, by the side 

 of the road to Lingen, the strata are most curiously bent upwards into a curve, 

 as if by some upthrust from below ; although in the quarry on the one side and 

 the rock on the other no such disturbance is perceptible. Perhaps the conical 

 shape of the hill itself may not be entirely attributable to denudation. 



Going northwards from Aymestrey along the turnpike-road, which is said 

 to coincide in the main with a Roman road from Bravinium to Magna, we cross 

 the water-shed between the Lugg and the Teme, between the 'Wye and the 

 Severn. A little stream, which rises not far beyond the village of Yatton, finds 

 its way, not as might be expected into the Lugg, but into the Teme. No very 

 considerable rise of ground marks the division, and from thence a wide and 

 somewhat open valley stretches northwards for some distance. 



Such a district, so -wild and so diversified, furnishes, as may be expected, a 

 great variety both of birds and plants. My opportunities of observing them have 

 of late years been but few, and were never made the most of, yet I have by 

 me a list of 75 species of birds observed here. Some of these are doubtful, and 

 some only observed once ; but by far the greater part are certainly to be 

 found. 



Hawks abound, the kestrel especially, finding abundance of food and 

 shelter. There used always to be ravens on Croft Ambrey (which, by the way, 

 is in this parish), but I rather think they have been exterminated. I well 

 remember the strange metallic clang of their croak as they flew overhead. Jack- 

 daws inhabit the church tower, and survey the world with great complacency 

 from the weathercock, always facing the wind. That bright and lively bird, 

 the water ouzel, abounds here. I have often heard one singing in the coldest 

 weather in winter, undismayed by the frost, though actually standing in the 

 water. Aymestrey britlge is an excellent place for watching their curious move- 

 ments from, their quick bobbing motion when standing, their rapid darting 

 flight, andtheir struggling dives under, or rather through, the water. The song 

 is sweet and varied, but not very easily heard, because the bird is fond of 

 singing close to broken or falling water, the noise of which drowns his voice. 



The fern owl may be heard here on almost any calm evening in the early 

 summer. I have seldom seen one, and suspect that they seldom fly abroad 

 until it is too dark to distinguish them from bats, which in flight they much 

 resemble. One very favourite haunt of theirs is the corner of the great wood 

 above the quarry, near the inn, where the short oaks and beeches doubtless 

 furnish them with food. Three kinds of wagtails occur here, the gray and the 

 yellow, as well as the common kind. 



