712 



negated variety of Polystichum angulare. On the walls of the fine 

 old castle itself we found nothing new ; though it looks as if Asple- 

 nium marinurn might as well take up its abode there as not, if inhabit- 

 ing the neighbourhood. 



The next morning was occupied with the walk up the Vale of 

 Conway. Of course Asplenium septentrionale was the grand object 

 on approaching Llanrwst. We thought we identified the exact spot 

 described at page 270 of Newman's ' British Ferns,' where that gentle- 

 man once found it in*such profusion. At first we feared our unpractised 

 eyes had missed it, never having seen this interesting little fern in a 

 native habitat, for after much patient searching, and tracing and re- 

 tracing our steps, we had been unable to detect anything of it; but 

 we afterwards came to the conclusion that some " piratical botanist" 

 passing that way must probably have destroyed it all : for on a wall 

 in another road, somewhat further, leading to Capel Curig, one of our 

 party in advance pounced upon a single plant, which was borne off 

 in triumph, after all had been called to see it growing, and was suffi- 

 cient to convince us that we had hardly passed it before. There was 

 no doubt more about that spot, had we had time to continue the 

 search. The day closed at Capel Curig. 



Assisted by the very kind and graphic instructions of Professor 

 Ramsay, whom we fortunately met at this hotel, pursuing his geolo- 

 gical researches, the next morning found us at the head of Llyn Id- 

 well, and " making bold for the wall of rocks" that closes up the vast 

 hollow of Cwm Idwell, except the great chasm or rift called Twll 

 Du. Polypodium Phegopteris and Dryopteris, Asplenium viride, Al- 

 losorus crispus, Cystopteris dentata, Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, with 

 Lycopodium alpinum, Selago and Selaginoides, grow in profusion 

 among and beneath the enormous masses of this wilderness of rocks, 

 on which perhaps the sun never shines. But neither here, nor about, 

 nor within the chasm, were we fortunate enough to light upon Polys- 

 tichum Lonchitis. We were not aware at the time of the locality of 

 Llvn-y-Cwn, above the chasm, as a habitat of Woodsia. Near the sum- 

 mit of the pass we gathered Poly stichum aculeatum, a fern by no means 

 commonly seen in Wales, and not once intermingled with angulare. 

 After the descent into the Llanberis road, we visited a tier of tall, 

 black rocks, on the left of the road to Capel Curig, a little beyond the 

 turnpike, known as Craig Du ; and on which grows a peculiar, simply 

 pinnate form of Asplenium Kuta-muraria, which might readily be set 

 down as germanicum, but does not agree in any other diagnostic. 

 On an adjacent dry white rock, we found a good supply of septentrionale, 



