404 Rev. W. A. Leighton on the Lichens of Cader Idris. 



siderable distance, which could be readily traced to the summit, 

 I resolved to gain it by skirting the base of the precipitous 

 escarpment. After a laborious skipping from stone to stone 

 over a distance of about a mile, I succeeded. Looking north- 

 wards, I observed that this road could be traced winding up the 

 spurs and slopes of the mountain, and that it was even then 

 traversed by guides with ladies and ponies. So, though suffering 

 much from fatigue, and having no refreshment with me except 

 some whiskey, not having set out with the intention of making 

 so extended an excursion, I concluded that I was in the right 

 track, and should eventually gain the summit, where I expected 

 to find a hut at which, as on Snowdon, refreshments might be 

 procured. As I ascended, I examined the rocks close to this 

 path, and instantly lost all my weariness on discovering Platy- 

 grapha tesserata (DC.) (Leight. Brit. Graph, p. 8, t. 5. f. 1) in 

 fine state and in plenty, and also Lecidea Bruyeriana, Schser. 

 (new to Great Britain) , of which I bagged some goodly specimens. 

 The latter lichen, I believe, is new to our flora; and its chemical 

 reaction shows that it is distinct from L. coarctata, Ach., f. 

 ornata (Somrf.), with which some lichenologists have allied it. 



My attention being thus diverted, I soon lost all trace of the 

 ascending ladies and guides, whom I saw no more ; and time 

 (5 P.M.) warned me that it would be prudent to proceed and 

 gain the summit. No sooner had I set my feet on it, than a 

 dense mist enveloped the whole mountain, through which I 

 could see scarcely two or three yards in advance. However, 

 judging I should scarcely go wrong, I followed the beaten path, 

 which, however, I soon discovered was leading me over the 

 mountain down to the southern or Tal-y-llyn side. Taking 

 out my pocket compass, I steered eastwardly and struck another 

 beaten path, which, after pursuing for nearly half a mile, sud- 

 denly terminated in a patch of scattered stones. The dense 

 mist still continuing, I grew somewhat alarmed, dreading the 

 possibility of having to pass the night on these heights, as the 

 descent down the precipitous sides in a mist would be a dan- 

 gerous risk. Still wandering about, I alighted on another path, 

 which conducted me into rather fearful proximity to the 

 yawning abyss of Llyn-y-Cae. This roused me to watchfulness, 

 and, knowing that I could not be far now from the highest 

 point, I kept more to the left along a track on the edge of the 

 northern escarpment, and gained the Gader and the hut adjoin- 

 ing. But, oh ! painful disappointment ! no provisions, no in- 

 habitant; nothing but a squalid den of blocks of stones, drip- 

 ping with wet and begrimed with filth. My alarm now in- 

 creased; and after proceeding a short distance forward, I returned 

 to the hut, resolving under the circumstances to remain there 



