92 REPORT — 1856. 



the gastiic cavity and their continuity with the membrane which lines it ; 2ndly, by 

 their connexion with the vessels ; 3rdly, that a rhythmical action of the entire' disc 

 and of these bands takes place both by day and during night, as carefully observed 

 by the author; 4thly, by an alteration in their colour when respiration is retarded; 

 5thly, by the diminution which occurs in one of these bands, if an injury happen 

 to be inflicted, on the corresponding portion of the disc, while the others preserve 

 their condition unchanged. 



On the Pearls of the Conway River, North Wales, with some Observations on 

 the Natural Productions of the Neighbou7-ing Coast. By Robert Garner, 



Though the Uiiio margaritiferus, or true British Pearl-mussel, is sufficiently well 

 known to naturalists, yet some obscurity has been thrown on the subject, and the repu- 

 tation of its beautiful pearls also suffered, from the circumstance that another very 

 sordid sort of pearl is procured from the salt-water mussel found at the mouth of the 

 Cor. way, the incjuirer commonly resting satisfied with such as are here procured and 

 offered him. With respect to these inferior pearls, undue mystery has been attached 

 to them and their use. It is true that several families exist by gathering the mussels 

 at low water, but it is not for the sake of the contained pearls, but as food for swine, 

 some being also used as baits, the pearls, which indeed are sold as curiosities, being 

 a secondary object. We doubt whether any method is known of making them orna- 

 mental. The true pearl mussel must be searched for a good many miles up the 

 river, and the writer found it plentiful about a mile above the ancient bridge of 

 Llanrwst, near the domain of Gwydir, where the water is beautifully clear, rapid, 

 and deep, and it may be had hence up to Bettws-y-Coed. It was probably from 

 the first spot that Sir Richard Wynne obtained the pearl which he presented to the 

 queen of Charles the Second. The writer procured a couple of pearls from one 

 mussel, one of which he considers by no means despicable, though inferior to 

 another which he saw in the possession of one of the village maidens. By means 

 of the coracles still used on this part of the river, the naturalists might procure 

 plenty of these handsome shells, and it may be, be fortunate enough to meet with a 

 pearl. 



The banks of the Conway near its embouchure are singularly rich in maritime and 

 other plants, very interesting to a naturalist from an inland district of England. 

 On the rocks of the Great Ormshead, immediately over Llandudno, we picked 

 Cotoneaster chrysocoma, Veronica spicata, HypocJusris niaculata, an Orohanr.he (pro- 

 bably wi/nor), apparently springing from the ivy, and, in the neighbourhood, about a 

 score more plants nearly as rare. The madwort {Asperugo) is not to be had 

 without endangering the neck, but it grows at Llech, the extreme and exposed point 

 of the Great Ormshead peninsula. The Scropkularia verna is considered by some a 

 doubtful native ; we gathered it near Gloddaeth, where it is plentiful on one spot, 

 and have it also from Diganeury ; it can hardly have been introduced. Along the 

 rather dangerous path which goes along the face of the Great Ormshead from the 

 west, a variety of plants may be got, as the Samphire {Crithmum) , generally rare in 

 Wales. We here found the Cyclosloma elegans, Bulimus obscurus and aciitus, Zua 

 lubrica, Helix virgata and pulchella, with five or six other common species of Helix, 

 and three or four common Pupce and Clausilise. 



On several places on the Llandudno mountain are large accumulations of shells, 

 specimens of which a geologist gave to the writer as crag fossils, and proofs of an 

 elevation of the rock in comparativtly recent times. They entirelv consist of the 

 limpet, mussel, and periwinkle, and are mixed with bones of the sheep or goat. 

 No doubt they are the debris of ancient inhabitants, who probably worked at the 

 mines. We obtained a rude stone hammer which was found in tlie mines, similar 

 to some found by Mr. Bateman in British barrows ; and on Pen Ddinas, hard by, we 

 noticed rows of the foundations of circular British dwellings. An intrepid female 

 oologist, living by the mines, furnishes eggs of the Guillemot, Puffin, Divers, and 

 two or three species of Gull. 



In the drift at the entrance of the Conway, many minute shells abound, four or 

 live species of Rissoa, and some of Odostomia, Mangelia, Lacuna, and Chemnitzia : 

 Cliiton cinereus is here abundant under the stones, the C. fascicular is more common 



