144 uisTom oi 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



As the neighbourhood of Aberconwy, especially 

 Creiddyn, in addition to its picturesque scenery, 

 affords a rich treat to the naturalist, I shall sub- 

 join the following- notices of some of the more un- 

 common objects that are here met with. The 

 most important under this head is the pearl fish- 

 ery, which has been carried on for many years, 

 and is peculiar to this river and the neighbouring 

 Menai. Theie are two kinds of muscles found 

 in the Conwy, from which pearls are obtained ; 

 mya margaritifera, cragen y diluw, and the mytilus 

 edulis, cragen las. Those of the former species 

 are procured higli up the river, above Trevriw, 

 and pearls scarcely inferior to the oriental ones are 

 occasionally found in them. The pearl which Sir 

 Richard Wynne of Gwydir, chamberlain to Ca- 

 therine, queen of Charles II, presented to lier ma- 

 jesty, was of this kind, and it is said that it adorn- 

 ed the regal crown. These fine pearls are but 

 seldom met with, although the shells are common, 

 and the search of them does not afford regular 



