affirm that they are not to be driven away unless the fignal for departure fhould be given from their commander in chief, one of which is fuppofed to accompany every troop." P. 238. REMARKABLE BIRDS. "THE rills of water that meandered through the meadows were covered with the common reed, and thefe were frequented with vaft flocks of fmall birds, particularly with the loxia orix, called by English ornithologifts the granadier, and by the French the cardinal of the Cape of Good Hope. The male is remarkable for its gaudy plumage during the spring and fummer months: in thefe feafons the neck, breaft, back, upper and under part of the rump, are of a bright crimfon; the throat and abdomen are gloffy black. During the other fix months it is ftripped of its gaudy attire, and adopts the modest garb of the female, which is at all times that of a greyish brown. They are gregarious, and build their nefts in large focieties. Another remarkable bird we obferved in the reeds. This was the long-tailed finch, defcribed in the Syftema Natura, as the loxia Caffra, on the authority of Thunberg; and in the fame book, with more propriety, as the emberiza longicauda. The changes that this bird undergoes are ftill more extraordinary than those of the granadier. The black feathers of its tail, which are fifteen inches long, while the body is barely five, are placed in vertical positions, like thofe of the domeftic cock. The bounty of nature Teems to have been extended to this bird to its difadvantage; its tail, when on the wing, impeding, inftead of affifting, its flight. This long tail, however, endures but the feafon of love. In the winter it affumes the fame fhape as that of the female, fhort, brown, and horizontal; and it can then fly like other birds. The change of plumage, în many birds, from that of the male to the female, and the contrary, has led fome fpeculative naturalifts to adopt an opinion that a change of fex alfo actually takes place. This, however, is not the cafe with respect to the two birds in queftion. The long-tailed finch appears to be one of thofe few of the feathered tribe that, in a state of nature, are found to be polygamous. I have freVOL. V-No. XLVII. quently feen from thirty to forty of their nefts together in one clump of reeds, but never more than two males at one place. The conftruction of their nefts is very curious. Thefe are entirely compofed of green grafs neatly plaited into a round ball, and knotted faft between the stems of two reeds." The entrance is through a tube, whose orifice is on the under fide, next to the water." P. 243. THE SEA-COW RIVER-MYRIADS OF LOCUSTS. "ON the evening of the 26th, we collected our forces at the commencement of the Sca-cow river, which was about fix miles to the northward of the laft habitation. This river is formed from the collected branches that fall to the northward from the different parts of Sneuwberg, and from the. Roode-berg, or Red Mountain, which is in fact an arm of the former, stretching to the northward. The Sea-cow river, and indeed all the ftreams that behind the Snowy Mountains ran northerly, were remarkably diftinguished from thofe whofe currents took an oppofite direction, by having their banks covered with tall reeds, the arundo phragmites, and destitute of a fhrub or tree; whereas the latter were always enclosed by mimofas, willows, and other tall arboreous plants. The northern rivers confifted generally of a chain of deep ftagnant pools, connected by the beds of narrow channels, that for the greatest part of the year are entirely dry. Some of the gats, or holes, of the Sea-cow river, were five or fix miles in length, and deep enough to have floated a line-of-battle fhip! They formerly contained vaft numbers of the animal from whence the river has borrowed its name; but the proximity of the colony, and the great convenience of hunting them in thefe pools, have been the means of deftroying them almost entirely. Now and then a hippopotamus is ftill taken in fome of the holes of the river. "The following day we paffed over plains that fwarmed with game. Pur fuing the gnoos and different antelopes, we killed a prodigious large tiger wolf, fuch as has been defcribed, two quachas, and a couple of snakes of the fame fpecies, one five, the other near fix feet long; their colour was entirely LI a-golden a golden yellow; they were very fierce, and made feveral attempts to spring at the horses. The peafantry confidered them as very venemous, and gave them the name of cobra capella. "Twenty miles farther to the north ward brought us to that part of the river where Governor Van Plettenberg ended his travels towards this quarter; and, in commemoration of the event, he caused a stone or baaken to be there erected, which he also intended fhould serve as a point in the line of demarcation between the colony and the coun try of the Bosjefmans. Thefe people, however, had thrown down and broken in pieces the monument; but the place retained the name of the Edel Heer's baaken; and the large hole of the river, upon the bank of which it flood, bore the name of Plettenberg. "The baaken of the governor was lefs a fubject of curiofity than one that appeared on the oppofite bank of the river. This was a clump of about half a dozen large bushes, the firft that had occurred for as many days; yet the rarity of fruitefcent plants would not have attracted fo much notice, had it not been for the vast number and fize, of nefts with which they appeared to be loaded. There were judged to be at leaft fufficiently large for the vultures that were hovering in the air, or for the large blue cranes that fat by the river's fide near them. On approaching the bushes, a numerous flock of birds, about the fize of the common fky-lark, iffued from them. The farmers, though unacquainted with the nefts, immediately recognised the bird to be the locuft-eater, and rejoiced not a little at its appearance fo near the colony. This fpecies of thruth is a migrating bird, and is only met with in places where the migrating locuft frequents. It had not been feen in the colony for the space of thirteen years; that is to fay, fince the lait time that the locufts infefted the Sneswberg. The head, breaft, and back, are of a pale cinereous colour; the abdomen and rump white; wings and tail black, the latter fhort and a little forked; from the angle of the mouth a naked area of fulphureous yellow extends under the eye and a little beyond it; and two naked black ftriæ under the throat. The specific name of grylli vorous may with propriety be given to it, as its whole food feems to confift of the larvae of this infect, at least when they are to be obtained. Nature has feldom given a bane but she has accompanied it with an antidote; or, in other words, fhe has ordained that one half of the creation fhould deftroy and devour the other, that the constant operations of reproduction might be going on. The numbers of the gryllivori are not lefs aftonifhing than thofe of the locufts. Their nefts, that at a diftance appeared to be of fuch great magni tude, were found on examination to confift of a number of cells, each of which was a feparate neft, with a tube that led into it through the fide. Of fuch cells each clump contained from fix to twenty; and one roof of interwoven twigs covered the whole like that made by the magpie. Most of them had young birds, generally five; the eggs were of a blueith white, with fmall, faint, reddifh fpecks. Thefe birds had here taken up a temporary abode in a place where they were not likely, in a fhort space of time, to be under the neceffity of quitting for want of food. Of the innumerable multitudes of the incomplete infect, or larva, of the locufts, that at this time infefted this part of Africa, no adequate idea could poffibly be conceived without having witneffed them. For the space of ten miles on each fide of the Sea-cow river, and eighty or ninety miles in length, an area of fixteen or eighteen hundred fquare miles, the whole furface might literally be faid to be covered with them. The water of the river was scarcely vifible on account of the dead carcaffes that floated on the furface, drowned in the attempt to come at the reeds which grew in the water. They had devoured every green herb and every blade of grafs; and had it not been for the reeds, on which our cattle entirely fubfifted while we fkirted the banks of the river, the journey must have been difcontinued, at least in the line that had been propofed. The larva, as generally is the cafe in this clafs of nature, are much more voracious than the perfect infect; nothing that is green feems to come amifs to them. They are not, however, without a choice in their food. When they attack a field of corn juft ftruck into the ear, they firft mount to the fummit, and pick out every grain before they touch the leaves and the ftem. In fuch a ftate it it is lamentable to fee the ruins of a fine field of corn. The infect feems conftantly to be in motion, and to have some object in view. When on a march during the day it is utterly impoffible to turn the direction of a troop, which is generally with the wind. The traces of their route over the country are very obvious for many weeks after they have paffed it, the furface appearing as if fwept by a broom, or as if a harrow had been drawn over it. Towards the fetting of the sụn thẻ march is discontinued, when the troop divides into companies, which furround the fmall fhrubs, or tufts of grafs, or ant-hills, and in fuch thick patches that they appear like fo many fwarms of bees; and in this manner they reft till daylight. It is at fuch times as they are thus formed that the farmers have any chance of deftroying them, which they fometimes effect by driving among them a flock of two or three thousand sheep, By the reftleffness of these they are trampled to death. "Luckily the vifits of this grega rious infect are but periodical, other wife the whole country muft inevitably be deferted; for they reft, as the pro phet in Holy Writ hath faid, 'upon all thorns and upon all bushes. Even at this time the cattle in many parts of Sneuwberg are ftarving for want of food. The prefent year is the third of their continuance, and their increase has far exceeded that of a geometrical progreffion whofe ratio is a million, For ten years preceding their prefent vifit, they were entirely free from them. Their laft exit from the colony was rather fingular. All the full-grown infects were driven into the fea by a tempeftuous north-west wind, and were afterwards caft upon the beach, where it is faid they formed a bank of three or four feet high, that extended from the mouth of the Bosjefman's river to that of the Beeka, a diftance of near fifty English miles; and it is afferted, that when this mafs became putrid, and the wind was at fouth-eaft, the ftench was fenfibly felt in feveral parts of Sneuwberg. Fortunately they were driven thus to fea before they had depofited their eggs in the ground. The larvæ at the fame time were emigrating to the northward. The column paffed the houses of two of our party, who afferted that it continued without any interruption for more than a month. The gryllivori in myriads were close at their heels, and departed along with them; fince which, to the present year, not one of them was to be found in the country." P. 254.. (To be continued.) XLVI. Coxe's Hiftorical Tour in Monmouthshire. (Concluded from p. 202.) GEOFFREY OF MONMOUTH. TRADITION ftill points out a fmall apartment of the priory as the library of Geoffrey of Monmouth; it bears in the ceiling and windows remains of former magnificence, but is much more modern than the age of Geoffrey: it is now converted into a school-room. Although the century in which Geoffrey flou rifhed is known, yet neither his family, the time of his birth, nor the place of his eduction is afcertained; we are only informed that he was born in this town, probably educated in the monaftery, became archdeacon of Monmouth, and was confecrated bishop of St. Asaph in 1152. By fome he is called a monk of the Dominican order, but according to Leland, without fufficient authority; by others he is styled a cardinal, but has no more claim to that dignity than his heroes have to the actions which he makes them perform. "He wrote a treatise on the holy facrament, and some miscellaneous verfes on Merlin; yet neither of these performances would have refcued his name from oblivion, had not chance made him the tranflator of a British hiftory, prefented to him in the original language, by Walter, archdeacon of Oxford. "This hiftory has occafioned a long controverfy, and divided the learned world as much as any other work ever given to the public: by fome it has been treated as a forgery impofed upon the world by Geoffrey himself; by others, the groundwork is confidered as true, although the hiftory, like moft monkish writings, is mixed with childish fables and legendary tales. Thompfon, the tranflator of the British Hiftory, has written an elaborate vindication of the work, and defends Geoffrey with with great skill and learning; but after refuting the charge of forgery, he has failed in eftablishing it as an hiftorical performance; for he himself invalidates its authority by acknowledging, that it was only fuch an irregular account as the Britains were able to preferve in thofe times of deftruction and confufion; befides fome other romantic tales, which indeed might be traditions among the Welfh, and fuch as Geoffrey might think entertaining ftories for the credulity of the times. "We have, however, no need of any other arguments than the confeffion of Geoffrey himself, who acknowledges that the Hiftory of Britain was not wholly a tranflation of the Welsh manuscript; he avows that he added feveral parts, particularly Merlin's prophecies, and inferted fome circumftances which he had heard from that 'most learned hiftorian, Walter arch 'deacon of Oxford.' "The controverfy is at length finally decided, and the beft Welsh critics allow, that Geoffrey's work was a vitiated tranflation of the Hiftory of the British Kings, written by Tyffilio, or St. Teliau, bishop of St. Afaph, who flourished in the seventh century. Geoffrey in his work omitted many parts, made confiderable alterations, additions, and interpolations, latinifed many of the British appellations, and in the opinion of a learned Welfhman, murdered Tyffilio*; we may therefore conclude, that Geoffrey ought to be no more cited as historical authority than Amadis de Gaul, or the Seven Champions of Chriftendom. "But whatever opinion may be en, tertained, in regard to its authenticity, Geoffrey's British History forms a new epoch in the literature of this country; and next to the Hiftory of Charlemagne, by Turpin, probably written in the eleventh century, was the first production which introduced that fpecies of compofition called romance." P. 295. PERTHIRANECDOTE OF MR. POWELL AND MR. FROGER. "MR. Lorimer pointed out to me a window remarkable for a curious anecdote, relating to the conteft for · precedence, between the rival houses of Perthir and Werndee, which, though lefs bloody, was not lefs obftinate, than that between the houfes of York and Lancafter. Mr. Proger dining with a friend at Monmouth, proposed riding to Werndee in the evening; but his friend objecting, because it was late and likely to rain, Mr. Proger replied, 'With regard to the latenefs of the hour, we fhall have moonlight; and 'fhould it happen to rain, Perthir is "not far from the road, and my coufin Powell will, I am very fure, give us a night's lodging.' They accordingly mounted their horfes, but being foon overtaken by a violent shower, rode to Perthir, and found all the family retired to reft. Mr. Proger, however, calling to his coufin, Mr. Powell opened the window, and looking out, asked, In the name of wonder, what means all this noife? Who is there?"'—' It 'is only I, your coufin Proger of Werndee, who am come to your hofpita, 'ble door for shelter from the incle 'mency of the weather, and hope you will be fo kind as to give me and my 'friend a lodging. What is it you, coufin Proger? you and your friend fhall be inftantly admitted, but upon one condition, that you will allow, and never hereafter dispute, that I am the head of the family.'- What did you fay? returned Mr. Proger. Why I fay, if you expect to pass the night in my houfe, you must allow that I am the head of the family.'— No, Sir, I never would admit that; 'were it to rain fwords and daggers, I 'would ride this night to Werndee, rather than lower the confequence of my family. Come up, Bald, come 'up. Stop a moment, coufin Proger; have you not often confeffed, that the firft Earl of Pembroke (of the name of Herbert) was the youngest • fon of Perthir, and will you fet yourfelf above the Earls of Pembroke?" True, I must give place to the Earl of Pembroke, because he is a peer of the realm; but ftill, though a peer, he is of the youngest branch of my family, being defcended from the 'fourth fon of Werndee, who was your ancestor, and settled at Perthir; whereas I am defcended from the eldeft fon. Indeed my coufin Jones *Letter from Lewis Morris to Edward Richard. Cambrian Register for 1795, P. 347." * of Lanarth is of an older branch than you, and yet he never difputes that I am the head of the family. Why, coufin Proger, I have nothing more 'to fay, so good night to you.'-Stop a moment, Mr. Powell,' faid the ftranger, you fee how it pours, do ! admit me at leaft; I will not difpute ' with you about our families.'-'Pray, Sir, what is your name, and where 'do you come from? My name ' is ***, and I come from the county · of ***.'—' A Saxon of courfe; it would be very curious indeed, Sir, 'fhould I difpute with a Saxon about 'families; no, Sir, you muft fuffer for the obftinacy of your friend, and fo 'a pleasant ride to you both'." P. 316. ACCOUNT OF JOHN OF KENT. "AS Newcastle teems with tales of fprites and elves, fo Grofment rings with the achievements of John of Kent, whofe exploits almoft eclipfe the adventures of Baron Munkhaufen. Old and young women, men and boys, unite in relating with extreme volubi, lity, and without the smallest difagreement, a series of extraordinary tales concerning this wonderful perfonage. Like Dr. Fauftus, he is faid to have made a compact with the devil; but, more fuccessful than the Doctor, he evaded the conditions of his covenant, and outwitted the prince of darkness, both in his life and at his death. "Among the early fpecimens of his magical skill, while a farmer's boy in the vicinity, he confined a number of crows, which he was ordered to keep from the corn, in an old barn without a roof, that he might vifit Grofmont fair. And sure enough,' said the old woman who told me the anecdote, 'they were there; for they made a 'terrible clatter, and would not fly • away till Jack himself came and re"leafed them.' night by one of his familiar fpirits. But it could not be the devil, Sir,' added the relater of the tale, for he 'would never have done fo good an 'action.' "An old tombstone in the churchyard, close to the east wall of the chancel, is faid to cover his body; and the legend reports, that he was interred under the wall to evade the condition of his compact, which ftipulated, that if buried either within the church, or out of the church, he fhould become the property of Satan. At the time of both my vifits to Grofmont, this tomb was covered with quantity of rub. bifh, which prevented me from infpecting it; but I was informed by the clerk, and by many other perfons, that it contained no infcription. "A cellar at Kentchurch House is ftill fhown as the ftable where he kept horfes, on which he traverfed the air with the fpeed of Lapland witches; and his portrait on wood, painted in oil, is likewise there preserved. "The family of Kentchurch, to whom I applied for the true character and actions of this reputed forcerer, could afford no specific or pofitive information. According to tradition, he was a monk, educated at one of the univerfities, and remarkable for his learning; in an age of ignorance, his acquirements excited the aftonishment of his contemporaries, and, like Friar Bacon, he was efteemed by the vulgar a necromancer. A Latin translation of the Bible, on vellum, which was either made or copied by him, was preserved in the family, but has been long mislaid or deftroyed. "Various opinions have been entertained concerning this myfterious perfonage. According to fome he was the John of Kent, Gwent, or Went, a Francifcan, thus mentioned by Leland: He was brèd in Wales, and fo "Kentchurch Houfe, the neigh-ardently followed the most celebrated bouring feat of the Scudamore family, by whom he was hired as a fervant, became afterwards the scene of his marvellous exploits, which it would be tedious to recount. But the feat of all others, which most endears his memory to the inhabitants of Grofmont, was the construction of the bridge over the Monnow, leading to Kentchurch: it is ftill called John of Kent's bridge, and is faid to have been built in one schools of the Francifcans at Oxford, and made fuch improvements in profound learning, that he was the wonder of all his religious brethren.' According to the antiquities of the English Franciscans, he was born at Chepstow, became profeffor and doctor of divi nity, and, on account of his extraordi nary virtue, was chofen minifter provincial of the order in England. He wrote many learned and pious works, particularly |