38 EXTINCT BRITISH ANIMALS. 



exhibits the most enchanting views, in which the 

 grand features of the mountains are most happily 

 blended with the softer woodland scenery of the 

 vale. On either side the river, rude rocks rear their 

 naked heads, a scanty covering of underwood com- 

 mences half way down, which, increasing as it 

 descends, intermixed with rock, clothes the bottom 

 through which the river winds. In the midst of 

 this luxuriant wood, a stone bridge of one large arch 

 is seen crossing the stream. This bridge is called 

 Pont Lli/n ar Avangc, or the Bridge of the Beavers' 

 Pool, from its situation at the head of a deep pool in 

 the river Conway, in old times frequented by those 

 animals." He adds, " One part of Nant Francon is 

 named Sarn ar Avangc, or the Beavers' Dam : and it 

 is improbable that a people would not only have a 

 name for an animal in their language, but actually 

 assign the places frequented by them, unless such 

 animal had existed in that country." 



Amongst the Welsh historians, Sir John Price 

 and Humphry Llwyd have both noticed the former 

 existence of the Beaver in Wales. The first- 

 named of these authorities, Sir John Price, is the 

 author of a description of Cambria that is usually 

 found annexed to the History of Wales, continued 

 from Caradoc of Llancarvon, the contemporary of 

 Geoffrey of Monmouth. This description of the 

 Cambrian principality by Sir John Price was written 

 in the time of Henry VIII., and was afterwards 

 augmented by Humphry Llwyd, Gent., of Denbigh, 

 who died in 1568. The work in consequence did not 



