224 



THE YOUNG NATUEALIST. 



had before us to S.W. the estuary of the Mawddoch — the South Wales coast 

 to St. David's Head — numberless mountains to the souths with Cader Idris 

 filling up the extreme distance. Eastward we had below us the enormous 

 gulf of Glaslyn, from which we had just ascended, bounded northwards by 

 Crib-goch and Crib-y-Ddysgyl, and to the south by the Liwedd ; while be- 

 yond lay the valley of Capel Curig, with the " mirrors " sparkling in the 

 sunshine — the spot from whence we had obtained our first view of Snowdon. 

 Behind the " mirrors " lay Moel Siabod, one of the most tempting mountains 

 as far as appearance goes that I know-; while far beyond, over the vale of 

 Beltws, was the Clwydian range, with Moels Eaunnau, on which with my glass 

 we could distinguish the remains of the Jubilee Tower; while to the S.E. lay 

 the Llangollen mountains, looking very little in comparison with the heights 

 of the Glyders, and the Carnedds Llewellyn and Davidd close by on our left. 



It was with difficulty we could tear ourselves away from the beauteous 

 prospect before us, but our train left shortly after five, and railway trains, 

 like time and tide wait for no man (except directors), so we most reluctantly 

 had to hurry away at a smart rate down the Llanberis path. Here our first 

 and only accident befel us. In scrambling down a bit of very rough " scree " 

 (for a short cut) my boot caught against a stone and carried away the heel- 

 torn completely from the sole and hanging to the rest of the boot by a half- 

 inch breadth of upper leather. Here was a nice pickle — three miles from 

 Llanberis, and no available heel to one's boot ! What was to be done ? Ear 

 from sympathising in my misfortune, my friend could not help laughing 

 again and again at my sorry plight (I really believe it was the bracing moun- 

 tain air — not want of feeling on his part), and 1 met with the same sort of 

 consolation from several passers by, when I asked if they happened to have 

 a spare pair of boots in their pockets. Never mind ! I never go out without 

 a piece of stout cord in my pocket, so with the aid of my knife, I soon had 

 a groove cut round the heel, and the whole of the portion adrift lashed se- 

 curely to the rest of the structure — not an elegant, but a most convenient 

 way of cobbling. Increasing our pace to make up for lost time, and our 

 sides quite aching from the excessive laughing engendered for my misfortune 

 — I was thankful it had not happened sooner on the Capel Curig ascent, or 

 it might have proved no laughing matter — we at last reached Llanberis, far 

 fresher than when we started, nothwithstanding our exertions, just in time 

 for a hurried tea, and the train home. On this day nothing whatever 

 of interest occurred among the beetles, although we frequently halted on our 

 upward path to seek for them. On the Capel Curig side there was plenty of 

 wet moss, but Notiophili and Crypotohypnus riparius were the only species 

 met with. We arrived in Liverpool somewhere about 11 p.m., feeling some- 



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