151 



The litliological texture points to the materials used — the debris of 

 disintegrated older rocks. Its diversity of structure results from the 

 varied influences under which the materials were re-assorted and con- 

 solidated in seas of varied dejDth, and subject, more or less, to the action 

 of currents. Comparing the old and the new red sandstone, j'ou find 

 little if any difference either in the materials or colour ; the new is, in 

 fact, oftentimes a mere re-arrangement of the old, aud without the aid 

 of the palaeontologist we could not classify them. 



On a fine May morning I sallied forth to break ground in a small 

 field or patch of this same old red, lying below a farmstead called Tyddyn 

 Calchwyn, about a mile from Iluthin. The old red ! what fresh and 

 vivid pictures the name recalls ! What geologist can hear it without his 

 mind at once recurring to the exquisite delineations of its world, revived 

 by the master hand of the young stone cutter, Hugh Miller, a child of 

 nature's own forming in ideas and education ; he, as I before remarked, 

 by his researches, classed it as a distinct formation. His lessons, so 

 (ruthful, yet so wondrous in the facts they disclose, have taught to 

 thousands that great lesson to "look through nature up to nature's God." 

 He has built up from geology, and opened wide to the world, a temple 

 wherein is displayed the order, power, and wisdom, wondrous yet com- 

 prehensible, of the Mighty One of old. From rocks and stones, and the 

 relics of the dead of past time incalculable, he has taught lessons in the 

 open fields which the temple-canopied minister cannot in truthfulness 

 or eloquence excel. 



Pardoning my attempting a tribute to this master mind, we will 

 [)roceed with our ramble. The old red in the locality selected appears 

 to lie unconformably as a selvage to the silurian, treading north-east- 

 wardly. It runs in a zig-zag direction for a distance of about two 

 miles, then disappears below the silurian, and re-appears at a distance 

 of about four miles, still retaining relatively its original shape, bearing, 

 and position. It nowhere exceeds in breadth half a mile, and frequently 

 narrows to a few yards. Two low truncated mounds of limestone, both 

 standing apart from the main bed, form as it were the portals through 

 which we enter upon it. It is the nearest specimen of this formation, 

 1 think, to our present locality ; and, although small, is worth examina- 

 tion, from its general typical conformation. It here lies in detached 

 and insular patches. 



Entering upon it at the south-east end, where its width is only a 

 few yards, you will follow the course of a mountain stream which has 

 cut its way through its centre, and liy its ceaseless wear formed a 



miniature ravine — 



" A Rreen and silont ^pol niniil (he hills, 

 "A sniiiH nnd silrnt ilolj." 



