The Scottish Naturalist. 2 55 



of the tide, and studded with several islands which, though now 

 entirely surrounded by dry and cultivated land, are still denomi- 

 nated Inches (e.g. Inchyra, Inchmichael, Inchture, &c.) That 

 this was the case we have abundant evidence, and amongst 

 other proofs may be mentioned the occurrence of the common 

 reed (Arnndo phragmites) abundantly in many of the corn fields, 

 where the roots are so deep down as to defy extirpation, as well 

 as that the clay of the Carse is thickly perforated with the roots 

 and stems of aquatic plants, which perforations are in the com- 

 mon parlance styled " pipings." Since the Carse has ceased to 

 be a marsh, draining and cultivation has considerably altered 

 the native flora, and many plants which probably occurred in 

 former times have disappeared, while a few species have been 

 added. 



But before proceeding farther, it will be necessary to explain 

 what may strictly be considered, in a botanical point of view, as the 

 Carse of Gowrie district. To define it by boundaries of parishes, 

 some of which extend into Strathmore, or to take the low 

 grounds only, which in the real acceptance of the term is the 

 Carse proper, would not truly be representing the flora of the 

 district. I therefore confine myself entirely to the watershed 

 or basin of the Carse ; and the better to carry this out, though 

 it may seem rather an arbitrary arrangement, I include that por- 

 tion of the watershed which lies to the south of the Tay, taking 

 the slope above Orchard Neuk on the north face of Moredun 

 or Moncreiffe Hill, and the rising ground above and below 

 Elcho, from the foot of Friarton Island to a little below Inchyra 

 Ferry, and thence across the Tay, and along its left bank to 

 Invergowrie burn. The north side I define by the line of hills, 

 or that portion of the Sidlaws, the drainage of which descends 

 into the Carse, and finally into the Tay, from Barnhill, near 

 Perth, in a north-easterly direction, along the crest of Kinnoull 

 Hill to the Lynedoch Monument at the back of Murrayshall, 

 keeping the ridge at the top of Over-Durdie Moor, by Airn- 

 bathie at the head of the Den of the Godens and Pitroddie, 

 across by Evelick and the Biel Hill, which separates the Den 

 of Balmyre at the head of Kilspindie from that of Rait, on by 

 the back of Fingask, Kinnaird, Pitmiddle, Abernyte, and Loch- 

 ton, to the hill of South Ballo, in the parish of Longforgan ; 

 thence due east along the county march by the Piper Dam 

 (once a fine sheet of water, but now drained), lying at the foot 

 of the Blacklaw Hill, and at the north side of it in Fowlis- 



