OF AN INSECT-HUNTER. 201 



This is preeminently the character of Radnor Forest, the 

 highest land of the kind, and is possessed by all that mass of 

 Radnorshire mountains which now present themselves in front 

 of the traveller. Approaching Pen-y-bont a minor object 

 attracts our notice — a chain of hills running along the valley, 

 with a clearly defined and exquisitely picturesque outline, 

 standing out in bold relief against the distance-dimmed forest. 

 This chain has a character peculiar to itself; its summit is 

 craggy, rocky, and uneven, and is in no part rounded like 

 the mountains which surround it : it is totally unconnected 

 with other hills, and forms the most striking object of the 

 neighbourhood. This chain is known by the name of Llan- 

 degly Rocks. 



At Pen-y-bont the old and new bridge are objects worthy of 

 a passing note ; the old bridge is built of wood, is very long, 

 and very tottering. The fair at Pen-y-bont was annually held 

 on this bridge. It was a strange and a dangerous place for the 

 Welsh folk to congregate, but nevertheless they would not for- 

 sake it ; so the authorities took on themselves to hang a sus- 

 pension bridge across the Ithon, which has been accomplished 

 in a most masterly style ; and is not only an elegant object, but 

 capable of bearing all the fair folk, were they increased a hun- 

 dred fold : the two bridges stand side by side, the wooden one 

 supported by a hundred props, the iron without a single one. 

 The " twa brigs," the old and the new, are now conveniently 

 situated to hold a discourse, if it so pleased them, on times past, 

 present, and to come ; they would at least know quite as much 

 of the future as any of the wiseacres who are continually pre- 

 dicting thereanent. 



From Pen-y-bont to Llandegly there is little to attract atten- 

 tion ; the Llandegly rocks accompany the road on the left nearly 

 all the way, but the traveller is on ground too low to observe 

 any of the higher grounds in the neighbourhood. 



Chapter X. 



[Llandegly Rocks. Sunset. W&ter-break-its-neck, Kington, Leominster.] 



The Insect-Hunter tarried some days at Llandegly, and 

 found much to admire and to enjoy. At evening he mounted 



