SNOWDON RANGE OF MOUNTAINS. 219 
aluminous soap rock, being burned, becomes of a beautiful 
white colour ; and being sent into the Staffordshire pottery 
districts, there becomes one of the ingredients of porcelain. 
At the northern end of the basin of Conway, in the pro- 
montory of Orme's Head, limestone abounds. It consti- 
tutes, with small intervening strata of ochery, yellowish 
soft sandstone, the predominant rock of this end of the 
district. It is quarried, burnt, and in considerable quan- 
tities exported for building and agricultural purposes. It 
may be observed, that the north-western extremity of the 
Orme^'s Head, rising to a great height, forms a strong bul- 
wark against the sea : and that its steep inaccessible front, 
on that quarter, is the retreat and breeding-place of im- 
mense flocks of water-fowl ; and among them is the pere- 
grine falcon, so famous in the days of chivalry for the sport 
it afforded in falconry. 
It may also be remarked, in passing, that the southern 
side of the Orme's Head abounds in several rare plants, 
among which are the Mespilus Cotoneaster, or Medlar, no- 
where else in Britain found growing ; Anthericum scroti- 
num, Pulmonaria maritima, and many other scarce plants. 
Not only along the shore of the Orme's Head peninsula, 
but also very generally on the Carnarvonshire coast, the 
Crambe maritima, or Sea-kale, grows luxuriantly. 
Of metals, the most important, and which is found in 
greater abundance than any other, is lead. At Pont Glyn 
Bridge, half-way between Capel Curig Inn and Betteos y 
Coed, on the banks of the Llugury, it is found ; and from 
some appearances here, as well as in other parts of this 
basin, it would seem that this metal was probably known 
to the Romans, and worked by them. But it abounds in 
greater quantities at Booleh Heira, a tract of country, in- 
cluding nearly three square miles, situate about two mil^s 
to the west of Gwydir-house. From time immemorial ex- 
