because it is so difficult to catch. It frequents the tops of the highest trees in the middle of woods, and enthusiasts are said to hunt for it with butterfly nets on poles 40 feet long! Its caterpillar, too, which is pale green, is very difficult to find. It has a wide range, however, and is not therefore probably so rare in nature as it is in ordinary collections. The "Wood White" (Leucophasia sinapis), by no means a common butterfly, Mr. Purchas was lucky enough to capture one fine morning on Penyard hill, near Ross. Then there was the "Scotch argus (Erebia blandina) with eyes on its wings-(a representation, by the way, common to many butterflies). It was not a Herefordshire specimen, of course. It is said to occur sometimes in the northern counties of England, but its true home is in Scotland. Here it is not very uncommon, and hundreds of them may sometimes be seen flitting about in the sunshine on the thistles beneath the columnar trap rocks in the Queen's Park, called "Sampson's Ribs." 66 Close to this also was the "small ringlet" butterfly (Erebia cassiope), also rare and confined to the northern counties. Then there were many choice varieties of Polyommatus (or many-eyed) tribe, the "Clifden blue" (Lycœna Adonis) whose wings present a most lovely, shining, silvery azure blue, the most splendid of all the British blues; the rare "Mazarine blue" (L. acis); "the silver studded blue," (L. cegon) the 'large blue" (L. arion) very fine and very rare, and several others. There was the "Brown Hair-streak " (Thecla Betula), and the still more rare "Black Hair-streak" (Thecla Pruni); many rare Fritillarys, Argynnis Lathonia, Adippe, Aglaja, and Selene; several uncommon Skippers Hesperia Paniscus, comma, and linæa, &c., &c. The completeness of the collection may be judged from the presence of these varieties amongst the butterflies. The other classes of the Lepidoptera presented also numerous rareties, which would delight the eyes of an Entomologist. The list is too long to attempt now. We can only say, what we feel sure is correct, that Mr. Purchas would be happy at any time to show his collection to any lovers of the science if they would call at his residence in Ross. The time was now drawing to a close, and although Mr. Blashill had prepared all the illustrations for his paper on "Variations in the water Ranunculi," there was no time to read it. It was, therefore, postponed for a future meeting. A paper on "Herefordshire Yew Trees," by the Rev. Thomas Woodhouse, M. A., of Hay, was also postponed. So finished a very pleasant meeting, and the committee must have felt, when they got home, much as the farmer did when he innocently said, as soon as he had got in his own hay, "What a blessing for the country a good day's rain would be." The Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. MEETING AT BUILTH, AUGUST 24TH, 1866. The fourth field meeting of the Woolhope Club for the present season was appointed to be held at Builth, on Friday last, the 24th ult., and most attractive programme showed that the energetic President of the Club (Dr. Bull) was resolved that none of the meetings during his year of office should be deficient in interest. Carlyle has well remarked that "a man will see as much as he brings power to see"; and it may also be observed, that a man will get over as much ground as his legs give him power to do in sufficient time. This is too often forgotten when the programme of an expedition is made out, and thus it often happens that many beautiful parts of a projected excursion have to be "omitted in the representation," as players say. But Dr. Bull had too much foresight to be upset in his plans by this miscalculation, and a rehearsal the day before soon pointed out what was impossible to accomplish, and the route varied accordingly. Still, as it was all nearly done by the President, in company with a botanical friend, we shall give our readers the advantage that would have accrued to them and the Club had they taken the entire route indicated. We have been favoured by the Rev. D. P. Davies and others with some notes on the history of Builth, which we shall take advantage of in due course, but in relating the transactions of a Naturalist's Club, it may be well to give early prominence to natural objects—the rocks, wood, and water-that equally invite the pencil of the artist and the descriptive powers of the lovers of nature. The scenery surrounding Builth is very attractive and distinguished for its richly diversified and picturesque character. The sportive Wye, here still in its infancy, has all the varied charms that a river possesses before it entirely leaves the rocks that have encompassed its mountain home, and according to the fulness of the stream is the rapidity with which it flows. At times still and sedate, at others it rushes over or plays among rocks of all sizes, forming numerous eddies and little cascades, or it spreads out widely in sparkling gravelly shallows, ever amusive and exciting, and it receives further beauty from the thick foliage that in many places adorns its banks. Beyond the confines of the valley, huge mountains on either side give majesty to the scenery. Proceeding from the old bridge of Builth, with its six stone arches, to which time has given rather a solemn character, and passing the railway station, the mossy turf of the Carneddau range is soon reached. A very steep path winds upwards among rocks that are unmistakeably of igneous origin. It is well to turn from it to some projecting rocks on the shoulder of the mountain. Here, spread out before you, are the windings of the Wye through the valley, the pretty town of Builth itself with its meadows and pleasantly wooded hills,-opposite to you is the Garth-from this point an isolated cone, whilst stretching out beyond it is the range of the Epynt, and mountains upon mountains that appear in every variety of light and shade. All this is seen in varied form as the winding path is followed to the summit of therange. From the western side beyond Blaengowen the hill projects boldly forwards into the valley by the point called the Craigddu, from which also an excellent view of the adjacent valleys and hills is obtained. There might have been considerable doubt as to the weather, but the dwarf thistle (Carduus acaulis) spread wide its calyx, and the botanists went cheerfully forward. The thistle and science were right too, albeit in direct opposition to local authority, for the weather turned out to be everything that could be wished. In the walk over the Carneddau some noteworthy plants were observed. The pretty English stonecrop (Sedum Anglicum) was particularly abundant on all the projecting rocks, though this plant generally prefers such as are within reach of the seaside. The purple flowered orpine (Sedum telephium) was also found- and in several places a small forest of fine grown seed stems of the foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) was observed. The bleak summit of the mountain is covered with the gray reindeer lichen, "The wiry moss that whitens all the hill," as Crabbe designates it, and which must give the spot rather a dreary aspect when the fogs of November emcompass it. Now it was all tempting to a wanderer, and the sun, though among clouds, shot out between them here and there, marking out with artistic effect the distant mountain ranges. To botanists, however, the chief attraction was the bog, situated in a hollow space at the top of the hill. This seems formerly to have been a lake or large pool, but is now nearly choaked up with plants; rushes in plenty, surrounded with tufts of the Sphagnum or bog moss; an abundance of the rare and elegant marsh St. John's wort (Hypericum elodes); the marsh Cinquefoil (Comarum palustre), with its beautiful leaves and maroon coloured flowers; the bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata); the not very common pedicularis palustris; the penny-wort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris) hid itself as usual beneath everything else; and the pretty cotton grass (Eriophorum angusti folium) with its white-robed head of seed waving in the wind, and tempting you to gather it-if you dare-for no sooner do you get near it than down sinks the treacherous Sphagnum, and the black water covers your boots with threatening rapidity. Thanks to these masses of moss, however, for upon them grew the pretty round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia.) This interesting little plant derives its name from the fact of the long red hairs which grow from the upper surface and edges of its leaves, supporting, each one of them, a drop of clear fluid, like dew. It is ever present in the hottest and most sunny days, if, indeed, it is not more abundant then "By the lone fountain's secret bed, Two couples of wild ducks, starting suddenly up from the bog, put to flight all poetic fancies and recalled attention to the setting sun. Guided by Mr. David Griffith, whose attentions to the visiting naturalists call for marked commendation, the descent was rapidly made over walls and hedges and ditches, down charming meadows, and through one dense thicket to the Werntoe dingle, where in the dark Wenlock shale, which the brook has exposed to view, the Ampyx nudus is said to abound. It was too late, however, the shades of evening were quickly deepening, and in its recesses on the present occassion only a few fragments were discovered. In this progress it became evident that some varieties of bramble were to be found about Builth, and the President formed an acquaintance with Rubus Kahleri, too close to be agreeable. Passing by the pool and grounds of Pencerrig, the march was taken to Builth, and head quarters fixed at the Lion hotel. Here it may be as well to pause and look round upon the town of Builth itself, and note its curiosities and antiquities. BUILTH. This town, by the consent of all tourists, is beautifully situated, in one of the most salubrius and picturesque vales in Gwalia. On the south it is bounded by a spur of the Epynt, a hill made classic by its "Bugeiliaid" shepherds in the writings of the late Brutus of Llandovery. On the east the pyramidical Garth and the pasture lands of Radnorshire appear. On the north the famed Llanelwedd and Penmaenau rocks stand like faithful sentinels to temper the northern blast, while the cultivated fields and picturesque plantations of Llanelwedd Hall and Wellfield seem to rejoice in their protection. Yonder, on the west, are knolly and undulated lands, resting on the banks of the Irfon and Chwefry, stretching far off to the Llanwrtyd, Abergwesyn, and Llanowen Hills, known by the name of Maelienydd, one of the wildest and least known parts of Britain, and may be called "the great desert of Wales." Giraldus calls them Ellenydd-in early English "Morugh" or moors-i.e., the heights of marshy places, which is the meaning of Ellenydd, according to Leland. From these hills the Irfon takes its rise, flowing rapidly through Llanwrtyd and Llangammarch as if in haste to join the romantic Wye as she descends from the peaks of Plinlimon, and thus combined they pass the pretty town of Builth as they meander down the vale. The town is irregularly built, consisting of two main streets which, meeting in an angle at the Swan inn, unite and afterwards extend for a considerable distance along the road leading to Llandovery. The population of Builth by the last census is only 1,100, but through the summer months the renown of its saline wells brings many hundreds of visitors there. The view from the handsome bridge of six arches, erected in 1770, which spans the Wye, especially if the day be bright, is perfect of its kind. The history of the place may be indicated by the following events. Its Welsh name Buallt is said to be derived from Bu an ox, and allt a wooded eminence, signifying an ox-cliff or oxen-holt. In ancient documents it is styled Llanfair-yn-Muallt-this was evidently a great grazing county. Camden and others claim for Builth great antiquity. The town in ancient days is said to have extended from a brook on the east side of the Castle called Glyro, from its contiguity to a centinel's station, to another brook called Llogyn falling into the Irfon on the west, and if so it was a mile in length. In the neighbourhood are several entrenchments in which Roman bricks with the inscription "Leg. II" have been found. In recurring to the Chronicle of Caradoc we find this place suffered considerably from the Danes in 893, who, being pressed by Alfred, sailed to Wales, and after destroying the country round the coast advanced to Buallt, which they likewise demolished. The present town appears to have arisen subsequently to the erection of a castle by the Norman invaders of this part of the principality, under Bernard Newmarch, brother to William the Conqueror, as some hold, in the year 1078. Phillip De Breos, one of Bernard's followers, attacked and conquered the territories of Elystan Llodrydd on the river Wye, established in them the Lordship of Buillt, from which circumstance he is styled "Lord of Buillt," which he obtained by conquest. He, no doubt, strengthened and enlarged the castle, the foundations of which, including some very strong earthworks, exist at the east end of the town, and make a conspicuous appearance. The keep stood on the lofty moated mound in the centre, which is many yards (50) in circumference; the state apartments and offices were on the south-west side, to which there was a branch from the inner moat. Sir Roger Mortimer held it for the Crown in 1260, but it was taken by Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, who, as some historians say, held it till his death, when the garrison betrayed him. There is but a small portion of a wall now remaining. It is situated on the north side, and to judge from this, the walls must have been of considerable thickness. It is built, however, of the crumbling blue shale of the district, and could never have successfully withstood an attack of artillery. When or by whom the castle was destroyed is not known. |