40 



At this time, when si ated under the fine growing yew tree in too church- 

 yard of Welsh Bickuor (S feet 7 inches in circumference), the sky became par- 

 tially overcast ami the air felt close. The flies were troublesome, and tho 

 summer knats or midges danced actively about — 



" Thick in yon stream of light a thousand ways, 

 Upwards and downwards, thwarting and convolved." 



It seemed to threaten a thunderstorm. However, it was but a passing 

 gloom, for the sun came out again before the boats were reached, and all was 

 bright and cheerful. 



And now the procession of boats again began. The scenery was very fine 

 and engrossed all attention. The river winds very beautifully, and as its course 

 was followed the hills seemed to change their places, and one steep finely wooded 

 hill in particular called " Rosemary Topping " was very changeable. At first to 

 the left side, it then took a position in full front, and lastly as it was passed on the 

 right bank, the Coldwell hill with its fine rocky scenery came gradually into 

 view. The sun shone brilliantly, and whilst the large masses of rock which 

 stand prominently forward were in shade, the tops of the trees in the recesses on 

 either side were in full light, and as the lights and shadows varied with every 

 stroke of the oars the different effects produced were admirable, and all felt 

 that the boats arrived only too quickly beneath that 



" Tower of rock that seems to say 

 Go round about me neighbour Wye." 



A landing was effected near the entrance to the tunnel beginning to be made 

 through the shoulder of Syniond's Yat — a short scramble, but a steep one, 

 through the underwood and hazle bushes brought the fair naturalists to the 

 regular path which ascends the hill obliquely to the foot of the rocks. The 

 road was in shade, the views from it were fine, and plants of rarity grew on every 

 side. The fronds of the Harts-tongue fern, Scolopcndfium. vuhjare, were seized 

 at once, the prickly shield ferns, PolysticJium angulare and P. aculeatum, 

 and the sweet maiden hair Asplenium Adiantum nigrum and the Polypody 

 Polypodium rulgare were very abundant, and one or two gentlemen gathered 

 from secluded crannies of the rocks the brittle fern Cyttoptcris fragilis, 

 and amongst the underwood beneath, the fern of the district, the Limestone 

 Polypody, Polypodium calcareum, and the sword-leaved Helleborine, CepJial- 

 The ladies kept to tho path, gathering the elegant nodding 

 Wood Melic grass, McUca unijlora, the yellow Cow-wheat, Melampyrum pratense 

 the wild Cornel or Dogwood, Cornus sanguined, in full flower, and noticing 

 the shrub, with broad leaves white and cottony beneath, the White-beam, 

 Pyres aria, which is one of the specialities of the place. 



Meanwhile the little urchins of the district had become aware of tho 

 visitors, and catching quickly the prevailing scientific air, rushed off and 

 brought some very beautiful botanical specimens, the Bee Orchis, Orchis apifcra. 

 They were in the perfection of blossom. The very bee itself seemed there 



