The Scottish Naturalist. 303 



higher altitude above the sea-level than has been recorded for 

 them. As these altitudes will be duly recorded in the Flora of 

 Perthshire, I will say nothing about them here, but pass on to the 

 alpine plants proper. 



Glen Tilt and the Athole mountains generally are, it must be 

 admitted, decidedly poor in alpine plants. Comparing the list 

 of Athole plants with those of the Breadalbane mountains to the 

 west, and of Glen Isla and Clova to the east, one cannot but be 

 struck by the absence of many species. The reason of this is, I 

 imagine, the want of suitable places on the hills ; but above all, 

 by the absence of those moist rocks and slopes which so many 

 alpine plants delight in. In a word, the geological conformation 

 of the hills is not favourable. 



Of the alpine plants which do occur, one of the rarest and 

 most beautiful is Veronica saxatilis, which descends as low as 

 1600 feet on the high rock overlooking Forest Lodge. Here it 

 abounds in company with D?yas octopefala, which descends to 

 nearly 1000 feet, at which height Foa alpina occurs. A curious 

 companion of Veronica saxatilis in this place is Che7iopodiMn 

 honiis-he7iricus which must have been probably brought in the 

 form of seeds attached to the wool of the sheep which frequent 

 the place, or perhaps blown thither by the wind. The Cheno- 

 podium can have no pretensions to be considered a native. 

 Another alpine plant, which forms in some places a conspicuous 

 object, is Cornus suecica, generally growing along with Vaccinium 

 tiliginosum. All four species of Vaccinium grow in the glen, but 

 as usual oxycoccos is rare, and grows in that straggling manner 

 which is so different from its habit in lowland bogs. 



A plant reported long ago from Glen Tilt I have repeatedly 

 searched for in vain. This is Epilobiiun rosmarinifoliiwi^ which 

 is said to have been found near Pool Tarff, as well as on the 

 banks of the Tilt and of the Tay. That it grew on the latter I 

 quite believe, but only in a garden. 



The richest part of Glen Tilt for alpine plants is Ben Chat, 

 and its distinguishing feature is the variety of forms of Hieracium. 

 On this hill also Gnaphalium Jto?'vegicum has been found, though 

 I have not succeeded in discovering it. 



The rather rare and local Pyrola secunda is not unfrequent in 

 the district, growing almost invariably upon the summit of the 

 steep rocky banks of burns. Pyrola media is much commoner, 

 but we do not meet with P. minor till we get into the woods near 

 Blair. Another rather local plant which is common, is Equisetiun 



