HOURS AMONG ROCKS AND CLOUDS. 
369 
flying to and fro through the crevice—then mounting our Horses, and again 
plunging and floundering amidst the stones and morasses we could now scarcely 
descry, we started at a sharp pace for Llanidloes, the Severn wailing a shrill 
farewell to us, and foaming down its rapids into the deep Birch-shaded valley 
below, with a vain effort to overtake us in our flight. 
It may perhaps be thought by some readers, that my remarks are not always 
very closely limited to the subject of Natural History, as they ought to be; but 
I reply, that the naturalist in his excursion is by no means obliged to abandon 
his reflective powers, but should rather improve and enlarge them. And if, as 
will sometimes happen to the keenest hunter of specimens —nulla viam fortuna' 
regit *—success is not quite as one could wish, the landscape puts on a dark, 
robe, and a black frown; then, undoubtedly, if imagination weaves in her busy 
loom a varied tissue of amusive thought, it prevents the gloom of disappointment 
corroding the dejected mind. However, that I may not give colour to rebellious 
wandering from the legitimate objects of The 'Naturalist f, too far, I shall here 
subjoin a list of the plants deserving record, that I gathered in the vicinity of 
Llanidloes and Plinlimmon for the few days I was located there. 
Plants gathered in the vicinity of Llanidloes, Montgom. 
August, 1837. 
Ranunculus reptans .—-In one spot on the shore of the Begalyn Pool, Plin¬ 
limmon. The extremely minute flowers of this plant, and its prostrate 
filiform stems rooting at every joint, give it a very peculiar and interesting 
aspect, whether it be really esteemed a species or not. Certainly when 
compared with a luxuriant lowland specimen of R. flammula, the dif¬ 
ference is very obvious. One of my specimens grew almost erect upon 
the bank of the Llyn, throwing out abundant beard-like roots, which 
however were useless, as they did not come in contact with the soil. 
Trollius Europceus .—-By the side of the bog at Can Coed, above the wooden 
bridge over the Severn, about a mile and a half from Llanidloes, towards 
Plinlimmon. 
Corydalis claviculata *—In several hedges on the heights above the town, par¬ 
ticularly near the Felindref turnpike-gate. 
Fumaria capreolata .—On the side of the Machynnleth-road. 
Viola palustris .—In a boggy field at Can Coed. 
V. tricolor ?—Some fine-flowered specimens of this occurred at the base of a 
romantic range of Heath-clad hills, overlooking the Clwddaeh valley, but 
I rather feel inclined to regard them as varieties of V. lutea. 
Virg. JEn., xii., 40 5 . 
