THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



219 



of snow which yet remained over most of the path unmelted by the sun. 

 Among these beetles Nebria Gyllenhallii, so often looked for in vain in simi- 

 lar spots at Llangollen, was in swarms. I could have taken hundreds : very 

 frequently on raising a stone of a couple pounds weight three or four would 

 scuttle off, and being newly emerged they had a distinct blue tinge, so much 

 so that on two or three occasions I believed I had captured the scarce Leistus 

 montanus. Patrobus assimilis was tolerably common, and a common low- 

 land beetle CryptoJiypnus riparius was abundant at all elevations. I found 

 a single specimen of Carabus arvensis of the dark green — nearly black — 

 form, which Dawson records as occurring on Snowdon, but, unfortunately, it 

 had lost both antennae and nearly all its tarsi — a veritable cripple. I also 

 took a single 'specimen of Pterostichus cethiops, but so far from mistaking 

 this species for P. madidus, of which it is sometimes described as a variety, 

 I did not at the time I captured it recognise it for either, and was puzzled 

 with it until it had been mounted. Besides a few Hemalotce not yet deter- 

 mined, the other beetles captured were common ones, such as PterosticJms 

 strenuus and P. vernalis, P. madidus, Agabiis guttatus, TacJiinus rufi- 

 pes, Lathrobiiim boreale, Othins melanocephalus, PhilontJms nigrituhts, 

 Liosoma ovatuhtm, &c. Long before we reached the summit we entered a 

 mist, and from that time until we re-emerged from it saw very little in the 

 way of view — from the summit itself we saw literally nothing but mist. 

 After some refreshment at the huts, we commenced the descent — really far 

 more trying than the ascent — and reached Llanberis just in time for a light 

 tea before taking the train home at 5.30. 



Par from being satisfied with my day's ramble at Snowdon, I felt as I was 

 leaving Llanberis that it must not be long before I paid another visit, if pos- 

 sible a longer one, to such a charming place, and my captures, especially the 

 Nebria Gyllenhalii, acted in a like stimulating manner on Mr. Wilding. 

 We settled at once that on the very next occasion of a holiday, Snowdon was 

 to be our destination. This opportunity for a holiday did not occur until 

 August last, when we arranged to go to Llanberis on the Saturday preceding 

 the Bank -holiday (how thankful hard-worked town's. people ought to be to 

 Sir John Lubbock for their Bank-holidays !) and to spend Sunday and Mon- 

 day on Snowdon. 



On Saturday, August 1st, we started from Liverpool fully equipped for 

 entomological sport, by the " special express to Llandudno," timed to reach 

 the latter place shortly after four. We might just as easily— more easily in 

 fact, have taken the later ordinary train, for our " special" proved to be not 

 a special express but a specially slow train, and owing to a series of mishaps, 

 principal of which was the carriage behind the one in which we were taking 



