of the water-shed.

The way was then taken along the summit of the mountain. This walk was very charming, for the views on every side were peculiarly rich. The Skirrid and the Sugar Loaf Mountains were in full view, and rendered almost purple by the state of the atmosphere. The sun was absent, but the sky-lights were very variable from the bright light clouds which were rapidly swept by the wind over the mountain summits to the deep gloomy tone of the heavy stormcloud of rain at a distance. The wind became very boisterous at that time, and swept up the valley with a force that threatened to blow the visitors, not to mention their hats, into the valley below. One merry member parodying the sufferings of poor Ben the carpenter, said

"I've met with many a breeze before,
But never such a blow."

Whilst another, more philosophical, was mathematically meditating how much pressure per square inch he had to contend with. At the head of the dingle Cyrau-r-waun, the opposite mountain gave some little protection, and it was here pointed out that the cattle yoke was represented by the general configuration of the whole valley, with the dingle here and another by Capel-y-ffin, beyond Llanthony, for the neck of the oxen. A sheep track path was then followed along the side of the hill, at a somewhat perilous angle of 45 degrees, where boots with nails in them were found very useful. On reaching the broken rocks of Cwm-yoy a viper, or adder, Pelius Berus, lay by the pathway, which had just been killed. It was twenty inches long, and so bright and clear in its markings that it had evidently but just changed its skin. The poison fangs looked painfully sharp. On the lower parts of the débris, but, high enough to look very perilous, a family of white goats were enjoying themselves with much seeming satisfaction.

The geological features of Cwm-yoy are not to be read easily in a cursory visit. The "Darens " as they are called, extend for a full mile in length. On the mountain side numerous strata of the Upper Old Red Sandstone are exposed horizontally, varying from a foot or two to twenty or thirty feet in thickness, and reach more or less precipitously to the top of the mountain. In the valley are numerous ridges, sometimes of considerable size, as is the one immediately above the village, a small mountain in itself, divided into two portions. The interstices between all these ridges are filled with rocks and boulders, often very massive and grand. Had two armies of Titans been contending persistently for ages with missiles of rock, they would not have left behind them so rugged a havoc as is there to be seen. The geological agencies, which have produced this succession of land-slips, would give rise to much discussion. Glacial action was looked for about the Cwm through which we had passed, but no structures on the surface, or other tangible proof could be seen of its having been hollowed out by glacial action-something which looked much like a moraine was observed, but time, and the perilous inclination of the path of observations, forbade a more careful examination, The Sandstone strata abound in springs, and water could be seen issuing from them in many places. It seems probable that by their gradual action the landslips have occurred. The Club might well spend another day in the

attempt to unravel the mysteries of the past as presented at Cwm-yoy for the edification of the student of nature. It may perhaps be disappointing to a palæontologist to spend a whole day, and succeed only in finding what he imagines to be indications of a ripple-mark, or traces of a raindrop fixed in stone, but to the physical geologist it is plain enough, that the Black Mountains, with their parallel ranges, their Cwms and Glyns, and numerous streams, present a field which would well compensate him for a minute and careful investigation.

On leaving the scene of desolation for the village of Cwm-yoy, it seemed quite in character that nothing but bare walls remained of the first house we came to, and indeed a further inspection would almost lead one to suppose that a gradual slipping of all the village was taking place, the houses and walls were so full of cracks and some of them so tumbledown-looking. The solid square tower of the church seemed a little out of the perpendicular, and its roof was unmistakably shaky. Any elaborate architecture could scarcely be looked for in a parish so remote in olden times from the mother church, the distant Menevia, which looks over the billows of the Atlantic. Before the age of railways, telegraphs, and telephones, episcopal authority must have been exercised with difficulty from St. David's to take much effect in the Black Mountains, and conversely, a double visit from a Cwm-yoy devotee to the shrine of the Cambrian Saint might well have earned him the traditional credit of a journey to Rome. Traces of Norman work were visible here and there, somewhat obscured by age, and plaster, and high pews. Some curious slabs in the porch puzzled some ecclesiologists present, and some doubts were expressed as to whether they originally belonged to the church, or were removed there. The steps to the rood loft were in excellent preservation, though all traces of the loft itself had disappeared. A Hebrew Bible of the 17th century, minutely annotated by hand, testified to the erudition and industry of an incumbent. The rules relating to the duties of the churchwardens were also framed and hung up on the walls, so that the consciences of those good men must be tried, if anything that may be required to be done there is left undone. If any archidiaconal eye should fall upon them their dismay might be great, and they could make no answer.

Two epitaphs, amongst other curious ones, merit notice for their quaintnessone dated 1682

"Thomas Price, he took his nap

In our common mother's lap;
Waiting to hear the trumpet say
Ay! wake, my dear, and come away."

and a second reads thus

"Now all you folks who comes by we
Remember your eternity:

Return you shall to mother earth,

Be quick then all ! prepare for death."

The font seems as old as the oldest part of the church, but neither this nor the bells could be examined, for the peremptory summons of the leader was heard, and there was nothing for it but to obey.

The very yew trees in the churchyard bore out the air of desolation that hangs on the place,-two were dead and bare, and the others, ragged and worn, seemed scarcely able to sustain their existence. The way was taken by them, and across the hill by the farm house, Perthi crwn, to a little upland district, between the Cwm yoy valley and Trewyn, called Croes Lwyd, or the Grey Cross. A cross is said to have stood here in the 14th century, and a monk relates that when on a pilgrimage to the Abbey of Llanthony, as he laid down at the foot of the cross he heard the bells chime at the Abbey. Near where the old cross is supposed to have stood, some good charitable soul has erected an iron pump, covered with a small substantial building, to provide at once water and shelter for the benefit of the passer by. Would that an iron cup had also been chained to it, that he might not be forced to drink the excellent water from the palm of his hand. Above the entrance door a cross is carved on the stone with the words Traws Llwyd, meaning the "Grey Beam." It should have been Croes Llwyd, the Grey Cross." The idea is so pretty and good that the word deserves to be altered to the correct Welsh. Near this is a very pretty narrow valley called Bwlch, which is a very common name in Wales. It always denotes a pass from one valley to another, and it here affords an excellent pass from the valley on Pandy side into the vale of Ewyas on the other side of Hatterel mountain.

ROMAN ANTIQUITIES.

On arrival at Trewyn the visitors were received with much kind and friendly hospitality. The house has many objects of interest in itself, as has already been stated, and it has been filled with many others by the present occupants. Some are so choice and rare as to demand immediate description. They consist of a couple of unique and very valuable Roman antiquities: the arm of a silver statue of Victory, and a gold seal. The silver arm is as well known as its possession is envied by all learned antiquaries. The following extract from The History of the original Parish of Whalley and Honor of Clitheroe, by T. D. Whittaker, LL.D., 1801, gives its history and description :-"About two miles N.E. from Rochdale, and near the line of the Roman road, was dug up in the year 1793 a very singular and noble remain of Roman antiquity. This was the right arm of a silver statue of Victory, of which the length was ten inches and its weight nearly six ounces. The hand was a cast and solid, and the arm hollowed and formed apparently by having been beaten on a model of wood; the anatomy and proportions are good, and on the inside of the thumb is a piece of solder which remained, and may be conjectured to have held a chaplet or palm branch. There was besides a loose 'armilla' about the wrist, and another united to the arm above the elbow, to the former of whicn was appended a plate of silver, with the following inscription, formed by the pointed strokes of a drill :

VICTORIE

LEG VI VIC

VAL RVFVS

V.S.L.M.