2U 
ON THE GEOLOGY OF THE 
and, as it were, at another time actually damming up the 
stream, thereby forming in many places frequent cascades 
and waterfalls — and the banks of these streams being 
fringed with finely-disposed copse wood, a great additional 
charm is thus given to this basin, by these necessary parts 
of a beautiful varied scene. And as the rocks of the west- 
ern boundary of the Conway basin are not of a friable 
texture, and as soil must always be produced by the under- 
laying rocks undergoing decomposition, it might be ex- 
pected that the higher declivities of the Snowdon chain 
should be covered but with a scanty portion of it. Ac- 
cordingly we find these higher elevations provided with a 
thin, poor soil, generally producing some of the coarser 
kinds of herbage. The furze, or gorse, or whin, is ob- 
served to spring naturally on these high surfaces, and often 
extensively covers portions of them. In descending to- 
wards the more level parts of the basin, in consequence of 
the finer and lighter particles of the decomposed slaty rocks 
being borne along by the water, and deposited according 
to their various specific gravities, we find a variety of soil, 
more or less fitted for the production of good herbage and 
root-crops. And along the banks of the Conway is as rich 
alluvial land as can anywhere be met with. 
In respect of climate, from the peculiar situation of the 
Conway Basin, though defended by the chain of the Snow- 
don Alps from the violence of the south-westerly gales, the 
weather is often cold and severe. These high mountains 
to the west bring down upon the basin much storm and 
wind; and being well protected by them from the sea- 
breeze, the snow often lies within it a considerable time. 
But at its northern extremity, where the Orme's Head Pe- 
ninsula opens to the sea, we find the chmate so far mode- 
rated by its influence, that certain delicate plants, as the 
Hydrangias, arc able to stand out all the winter. 
