1854] Alpine Plants at Twl Du, &c. 61 



mit. For the Anthericum (spider-wort) we looked anxiously 

 and in vain. . . . Meanwhile F. had got the Sedum rupes- 

 tre (rock stonecrop), but not in flower; and I went round 

 to the right to examine some very curious perpendicular 

 and eroded rocks that rise just round the first corner. The 

 path is rather dizzy here, and leads to the top on the other 

 side from that by which we descended. All these rocks are 

 covered with moisture both right and left, and produce a 

 number of the mountain plants. It is a most excellent 

 botanical locality, shady and dripping. 



" We returned to the top the same way and made for 

 Llyn y Cwn, where we found the Subularia plentifully, 

 seeding, and Lobelia in abundance, as well as a curious 

 form of Juncus uliginosus. From this point we had a most 

 beautiful descent along the mountain torrent, with a capital 

 opportunity of observing the Dipper* as he stood for some 

 time sunning on a large stone near a small pool. . . . The 

 alpine plants descend a good way down the stream, espe- 

 cially the Saxifraga stellaris and hypnoides. Halfway 

 down we had a good view of a lofty fall over several ledges 

 of rock, and adorned near the summit with a mountain -ash 

 in full red berry which had a very fine effect. Here, too, 

 was Cnicus heterophyllus (mountain thistle) with its showy 

 leaves below ; Parnassia, ever beautiful ; Phegopteris 

 (beech fern), &c. We found the descent very steep, and 

 soon reached the road close by the turnpike, just as the 

 rain was commencing, through which we drove to thorough 

 soaking, arriving home at 8 o'clock after a most enjoyable 

 and successful expedition, in which we found no less than 

 ten plants new to us." 



The expedition, as originally planned, was to have been 

 made under the escort of the experienced guide, William 

 Williams, without whose assistance some of the best 

 rarities of the district were scarcely to be hoped for. 



It was not until the late date of October i6th that, after 

 many disappointments, the long projected visit to the sum- 

 mit of Snowdon was accomplished, and through Williams' 

 help, he obtained " that rarity of all Snowdonia" the 

 spiderwort (Anthericum serotinum), for which he had so 



* An absentee from the Isle of Wight fauna. 



