The Mcnai Bridge near Bangor, Carnarvonshire. 157 

 those spikes which have the involucres united by a membrane 

 might belong to a younger state of the fructification. On the 

 specimen, however, from which Mr. Rudge's figure was 

 made, (and which was gathered in Guiana by M. Martin ) 

 bemg submitted to a careful examination, it was found to be 

 composed of two individuals ; thus, as it were, tendino- greatly 

 to strengthen the opinion of M. Bory. ° 



"It is, however, not a little remarkable, that Kaulfuss, in his 

 work on the Ferns, who appears, fi'om his manner of describing 

 It, to be well acquainted with this plant, not only quotes the 

 hgure of Rudge, without questioning the correctness of it, but 

 absdutely describes the two kinds of fructification represented 

 by Rudge: first, in his specific character, " Indusiis spicatis 

 disticlie connatis, tandem liberis pedicellatis ; " and afterwards 

 in the description, " Indusia disticha, coarctata, primum mem- 

 brana pellucida connexa, tandem distincta pedicellata spicam 

 densam disticham subsecundam referentia." As a further 

 evidence of his beins: well acquainted with the Trichomanes 

 elegans, he corrects Willdenow, who, he says, only knew the 

 plant from Rudge's figure, and who particularly described 

 the fertile fronds otherwise than he would have done had he 

 described from the plant itself."— (i/.) 



THE MENAI BRIDGE NEAR BANGOR, CARNARVONSHIRE. 



On Tuesday, the 26th of April 1825, the Jrsi chain of this 

 stupendous work was thrown over the Straits of Menai, in 

 presence of an immense concourse of persons of all ranks. At 

 half-past-two o'clock, about half flood-tide, the raft prepared 

 for the occasion, stationed on the Carnarvonshire side, which 

 supported the chain intended to be drawn over, began to move 

 gradually from its moorings, towed by four boats, with the 

 assistance of the tide, to the centre of the strait, between the 

 two grand piers : when the raft was properly adjusted, and 

 brought to Its ultimate situation, it was made fast to several 

 buoys, anchored in the channel for that specific purpose. The 

 whole of this arduous process was accomplished in twenty-five 

 minutes. The end of the chain, pending from the apex of 

 the suspending pier on the Carnarvonshire side down nearly to 

 high-water mark, was then made fast by bolts to that part of 

 the chain lying on the raft; which operation was completed in 

 ten minutes. The next process was fastening the other ex- 

 tremity of the chain (on the raft) to two immense powerful 

 blocks, for the purpose of lioisting the entire line of chain to 

 Its intended station, the apex of the suspending pier on the 

 Anglesea side. W'lien the blocks were made secure to the 

 cliain (comprising twenty-five ton weight o( iron), two capstans, 



and 



