PEMBROKESHIRE, a county of Wales, bound-
ed on all sides by the Irish sea, except on the east,
where it joins to Caermarthen, and on the north-
east to Cardigan. It lies the nearest to Ireland of
any county in Wales; and extends in length from
north to south 35 miles, and from east to west 29, and
is about 140 in circumference. It is divided into
seven hundreds, contains about 420,000 acres, one city,
eight market-towns, two forests, 145 parishes, about
2300 houses, and 25,900 inhabitants. It lies in the
province of Canterbury, and diocese of St David's.
It sends three members to parliament, viz. one for the
shire, one for Haverfordwest, and one for the town of
Pembroke.
The air of Pembrokeshire, considering its situation,
is good; but it is in general better the farther from
the sea. As there are but few mountains, the soil is
generally fruitful, especially on the sea-coasts; nor are
its mountains altogether unprofitable, but produce
pasture sufficient to maintain great numbers of sheep
and goats. Its other commodities are corn, cattle,
pit-coal, marl, fish, and fowl. Amongst these last are
falcons, called here fergrins. Amongst the birds com-
mon here are migratory sea-birds, that breed in the
Isle of Ramsey, and the adjoining rocks called The Pembroke-
Bishop and his Clerks. About the beginning of April
such flocks of birds, of several sorts, resort to these
rocks, as appear incredible to those who have not seen
them. They come to them in the night-time, and also
leave them then; for, in the evening, the rocks may
be seen covered with them, and the next morning not
one be seen at all. In like manner, not a single
bird shall appear in the evening, and the next morning
the rocks shall be covered with them. They also
generally make a visit about Christmas, staying a week
or longer; and then take their leave till breeding-time.
Among these birds are the eligug, razor-bill, puffin,
and harry-bird. The eligug lays only one egg, which,
as well as those of the puffin and razor-bill, is as big as
a duck's, but longer, and smaller at one end. She
never leaves it till it is hatched, nor then till the young
one is able to follow her; and she is all this time fed
by the male. This and the razor-bill breed upon the
bare rocks, without any kind of nest. The puffin and
harry-bird breed in holes, and commonly in the holes
of rabbits; but sometimes they dig holes for them-
selves with their beaks. The harry-birds are never
seen on land but when taken. All the four kinds can-
not raise themselves to fly away when they are on
land, and therefore they creep or waddle to the cliffs,
and throwing themselves off, take wing. The eligug
is the same bird which they call in Cornwall a kiddaw,
and in Yorkshire a scout. The razor-bill is the merre
of Cornwall. The puffin is the ardic duck of Clusius,
and the harry-bird the shire-water of Sir Thomas
Brown. The inhabitants of this county make a very
pleasant durable fire of culm, which is the dust of coal
made up into balls with a third part of mud. The
county is well watered by the rivers Clethy, Dougledye,
Cledhew, and Teive; which last parts it from
Cardigan. There is a division of the county styled
Rhos in the Welch, by which is meant a large green
plain. This is inhabited by the descendants of the
Flemings, placed there by Henry I. to curb the Welch,
who were never able to expel them, though they often
attempted it. On the coasts of this county, as well as
on those of Glamorgan and the Severn Sea, is
found a kind of alga or laver, the lattuca marina of
Camden, being a marine plant or weed. It is ga-
thered in spring; of which the inhabitants make a sort
of food, called in Welch llavan, and in English black-
butter. Having washed it clean, they lay it to sweat
between two flat stones, then shred it small, and knead
it well, like dough for bread, and then make it up into
great balls or rolls, which is by some eat raw, and by
others fried with oatmeal and butter. It is account-
ed excellent against all distempers of the liver and
spleen; and some affirm that they have been relieved by
it in the sharpest fits of the stone.