that has formed the basis for many an interesting volume on the
county. The church of Pendeen occupies as bleak a site as could anywhere
be found in England. It was designed and built by Robert Aitken the
famous Cornish missioner. It was fashioned on the plan of the ancient
cathedral of Iona, and was built almost entirely by the people
themselves.

A little eastward of Pendeen is the church town of Morvah, "the place by
the sea", which has traditions relating to mermaids. Northward is
Porthmorna, or Porth Moina, the Monk's Port, formed on one side by the
fine cliff of Bosigran, where the rocks of granite have a pale reddish
tint; so that when lit up by the sun they have a very brilliant
appearance. A few years ago the bleak hills and towering cliffs in this
locality were a favourite haunt of the peregrine falcon, the cliff hawk,
while the blue rock dove, and Baillon's crake have been found in the
district. Bosigran lies just under Cairn Galva, whose boldly-formed
outline is a conspicuous landmark. Just beyond Porthmeor is the
Gurnard's Head, the finest and most romantic point on the north side of
the Land's End, and one of the show places of the county. The ancient
name for the headland was Treryn Dinas. Portions of a small chapel
remain on the isthmus, and there was once a holy well close by.

The village of Zennor, about a quarter of a mile distant, lies in a wild
and stony district. Within the very interesting church are some quaint
bench ends, one of which depicts a mermaid, complete with comb, mirror,
and fishy tail, but the carving is of a very primitive order. On Zennor
Beacon is the famous Zennor Quoit or Cromlech, the largest in Cornwall,
and one of the finest in the country. Between Zennor and St. Ives a wild
tract of country forms the parish of Towednack with an ancient church
within which is a true chancel arch, a constructional feature that is of
rare occurrence in Cornish churches.

The irregularly built little town of St. Ives, which has not inaptly
been called the "Art Centre of England", is made up of two distinct
parts. The older portion, which consists of oldfashioned houses, and
narrow tortuous streets, is situated on a low spit of land called the
"island", while "up-along" on the higher ground above the station, is
the favourite and fashionable holiday resort. The ancient name of the
place, Porth Ia, perpetuates the memory of another Irish saint, Ia, who
is claimed as a convert of St. Patrick, an