The view from the summit of Cader Idris is one of the most magnificent in Wales. Turning to the south, the landscape consists of a series of rolling hills, stretching as far as the eye can reach, in smoothly swelling outlines; and it is impossible not to be struck with the circumstance that, though some rise higher than others, they maintain a sort of average height, accompanied by a general gentle inclination towards the sea. Through this broad undulation innumerable valleys have been excavated. The hills have not been formed merely in consequence of disturbance of the strata; but, through the outcropping and smoothed edges of disturbed strata, many great and small valleys have been cut by old marine denudations, atmospheric disintegrations, and the action of running water. The general uniform character of the outlines of this country is due to the sameness of the rocks, which, in the main, consist of slates, occasionally varied by hard or interstratified bands of sandstone, the whole belonging to that part of the Silurian series known as the Caradoc or Bala beds, and the rocks immediately overlying.

Turning northwards, a change in the character of the landscape becomes at once apparent. The mountains are broken and rugged. The summits of the Arans, the great swelling mass of Rhobell-fawr, the cliffs of Rhinog-fawr and Rhinog-fach, that guard the pass of Bwlch-drws-ar-Dudwy, the bold outlines of the Arenigs, the Moelwyns, and Cynicht, all meet the eye almost at a glance; and, far in the distance, the peak of Snowdon sharply pierces the air, rising to a height of 3,571 feet above the sea.

The name “Iceland” raises ideas, especially in the winter time, the reverse of cheering; and a subsequent low average of fingers and toes suggests itself as no very unlikely price to pay for witnessing the marvels of Thing Valla. Gentle reader! what think you of an al fresco breakfast taken on the plain, “in shirt-sleeves, with a white handkerchief wrapped round the head for fear of the sun, the whole landscape gleaming and glowing in the beauty of one of the hottest summer days I ever remember?” Such is the description given of the summer climate as the party encamped to examine the place more in detail.

Descending the gorge of the Almanna Gja, they went towards the lake. “The perpendicular walls of rock rose on either hand from the flat greensward that carpeted its bottom, pretty much as the waters of the Red Sea must have risen on each side of the fugitive Israelites. A blaze of light smote the face of one cliff, while the other lay in the deepest shadow; and on the rugged surface of each might still be traced corresponding articulations that once had dovetailed into each other, ere the igneous mass was rent asunder. So unchanged, so recent, seemed the vestiges of this convulsion, that I felt as if I had been admitted to witness one of nature's grandest and most violent operations, almost in the very act of its execution. A walk of about twenty minutes brought us to the borders of the lake—a glorious expanse of water, fifteen miles long, by eight miles broad, occupying a basin formed by the same hills, which must also, I imagine, have arrested the further progress of the lava torrent. A lovelier scene I have seldom witnessed. In the foreground lay huge masses of rock and lava, tossed about like the ruins of a world, and washed by waters as bright and green as polished malachite.

The two following species appear to me to be new, and come likewise from the carboniferous limestone:—

1. Hydreionocrinus Woodianus. De Koninch. Pl. IV. fig. 5, 5a.

The head of this species is of medium size, sub-cylindrical in form, and terminated at its upper part by a crown composed of fifteen pieces, disposed in a circle, and attached one to another, the central space being occupied by the dome. The calix, taken by itself, resembles a little open cup. The base is composed of rather small plates, most of which have a point attached to the stem. The subradial plates, with the exception of that on the anal side, are much broader than long. They are very thick and strongly arched, and consequently their sutures are very decidedly exhibited. The first radial plates are pentagonal in shape, about a third broader than long, and, like the preceding, rather thick, and separated from each other by a strong groove. The second radial plates are also pentagonal, and broader than long. The axillary plate is very thick, and furnished with a slight protuberance, and juts outwards. The brachial plates, which follow the axillary plate, offer nothing remarkable. The external surface of these plates is indented with little irregular tracings, which make it rough, and the test thus resembles shagreen. The arms—twenty in number—are composed of cuneiform alternating articulations, and are joined together laterally. I have not observed any traces of pinnules. The little plates of which the dome is composed are all ornamented with a prominent tubercle in the middle. Their surface is apparently smooth, their number variable, and their form is generally hexagonal. I have not been able to discover any traces of a horn or proboscis, nor of any anal or buccal opening. It is probable these were situated between the arms, which were placed on the anal or irregular side of the bulb, and that these arms were capable of extension, and of admitting a passage for the food of the animal. The stem is rather stout, in comparison to that of most of the other species, among which it is often very slight.

The case now to be detailed is one which was investigated at Malmsbury, in Wiltshire. At this place the worthy burgesses to whom the land had been bequeathed by king Athelstan had undoubted evidence that a shaft had been sunk for coal on the land in question. This operation was actually performed about a century ago, and, in order to pay the attendant expenses, the whole of the timber from a large estate was felled and sold. Tradition said that “the coal had been arrived at, but, in reality, those engaged had been bought off by some proprietors in the Bristol coal-field, for fear the new district coal should come in competition with theirs.” But, besides evidence of this kind, about two pounds of Lignite was submitted to my inspection, with the assurance that it burnt like good coal; and the argument founded upon this pseudo-coal was as follows:—“This coal is about two inches thick at about 20 feet from the surface; how thick, therefore, may we not expect it at a hundred yards?” But for fear this should not be deemed conclusive, a bill of sale of some land in the district, many years before the date of this examination, was produced, on which was the statement that “Mining rights were reserved.” But I should state that upon inquiry it was found that the said land belonged to the Crown, and I believe that in all Crown lands there is a reservation made of mining rights; thus this, it will be perceived, was no evidence whatever of the presence of mineral matter. These, then, were the foundations upon which the burgesses relied; now for the geological examination.