210 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



indeed at the time of our visit, but whose 

 grandeur must be enhanced ten-fold at the 

 time of the melting of the winter's snows. 

 We descended the cliff by a series of slippery 

 stone steps, and climbing over the rocks in 

 mid stream — during, the few moments we 

 could stay there on account of the drenching 

 spray — enjoyed the magnificent scene. Re- 

 ascending the cliff, we found a place at the 

 top where we could sit and drink in the 

 view of the whole cataract and at the same 

 time refresh the inner man with something 

 more substantial. Whilst so occupied, a 

 fine, recently-emerged specimen of Rhagium 

 hifasciatum settled on Mrs. Ellis's dress and 

 was speedily transferred to safe quarters. 

 After a good rest, and regretting that time 

 would not allow us to continue the road to 

 Capel Curig and so obtain a view of Snow- 

 don from its finest vantage ground, we 

 retraced our steps, collecting, or rather 

 trying to collect, by the roadside ; for, with 

 the exception of two or three species of 

 Meligathes and a species of Anthobium— 

 none of which I have had time to determine 

 as yet— collected on the flowers of the 

 meadow sweet, and a few specimens of 

 Qued(VS fulgidus, a single Amara spinipes, 

 one Pterostichus striola, and a few TelepJwri, 

 we found nothing worth carrying home, 

 although I swept the roadside herbage for 

 nearly two miles and occasionally entered 

 the woods on each side of the road for the 

 same purpose. V/e had made enquiries on 

 our way to the falls respecting tea, and 

 found that we could be accommodated by 

 Mrs. Hughes, Glan Llugwy, a short distance 

 from the "miners' bridge." We therefore 

 stayed here and partook of a good tea, after 

 which, and feeling considerably refreshed, 

 we started off at a brisk pace for the " Fairy 

 Glen," which we had been advised on no 

 account to miss. We passed the "Royal 

 Oak Hotel," where in the doorway is ex- 

 hibited an ugly daub supposed to represent 

 an oak-tree, which had been painted as a 



sign for the place when only a country inn 

 by David Cox, and which sign seems to be 

 thought a great deal of by the natives, 

 probably on account of its ugliness. Cross- 

 ing the Waterloo Bridge which spans the 

 Conway river, we take the lower of two 

 roads, and in a few minutes arrive at the 

 Beavers' Pool Bridge (Pont Llyn yr afanc), 

 which name is held to prove the fact of the 

 river having been at one time inhabited by 

 that animal. A stile on the left (without 

 crossing the bridge) leads us after about ten 

 minutes walk to the most picturesque bit of 

 scenery in the principality — the "Fairy 

 Glen,"— where the Conway river flows with 

 some rapidity through a beautiful gorge 

 with almost perpendicular sides, these latter 

 covered with vegetation, the flow of the 

 river being broken here and there by huge 

 boulders, over which, after descending the 

 precipice by a number of rustic steps, we 

 have to clamber in order to get into mid- 

 stream with the whole length of the glen 

 before us. The surroundings were so de- 

 lightful and the whole scene so full of beauty 

 as the river sparkled in the evening sun that 

 we had great dif&culty in breaking ourselves 

 away from the lovely spot and retreating to 

 the railway station, where we arrived just 

 in time for a train. Even as we left, the 

 rain commenced and soon came down in 

 torrents, completely veiling the mountains 

 on each side of the valley. The rain cleared 

 off by the time we arrived at Llandudno 

 Junction, where we had to wait nearly an 

 hour for a train home. We arrived in 

 Liverpool about ii p.m., very tired, I con- 

 fess, but very well pleased with our day's 

 excursion to Bettws-y-Coed. 



RANDOM NOTES, 



By S. L. MosLEY. 



The " Lancashire and Cheshire Entomo- 

 logical Society " still continues its prosperous 



