The Scottish Naturalist. 157 



On this day the party was recruited by the arrival of some 

 members who were unable to come sooner, and in the evening 

 the annual business meeting was held. This was purely formal, 

 and the only matter of interest that need be mentioned was the 

 decision to hold the next conference in Aberdeen, under the 

 presidentship of the veteran cryptogamist, Dr Dickie. 



On Thursday explorations were made in a new direction, a 

 small loch being visited in search of the local Isoetes echinospora, 

 which had been found there by Mr Ross. The Isoetes was found 

 to be abundant, and likely to remain so, growing in a deep dark 

 pool in the peat. When seen alive, this plant presents a very 

 different appearance from the more widely distributed Isoetes 

 lacustris. From this loch the party proceeded to another part 

 of Aros Castle woods, where some interesting lichens (to be 

 afterwards noticed), but no new fungi, were observed. The 

 chief other plant of importance found was Lastrea ceimda, in 

 great luxuriance, but very local. 



Next day, under the guidance of Mr Ross, an old wall was 

 visited, on which that local and interesting moss, which is almost 

 confined to Britain, Glyphomitrium Daviesii, was found in great 

 abundance. Some of the party then went on to a loch a few 

 miles off, and found Isoetes lacustris, a plant which seems to be 

 rare, or overlooked, in Mull. 



After this the Conference concluded, and most of the mem- 

 bers went home, but three of us (Dr Stirton, Mr M. C. Duff, 

 and I) went on to Skye to continue our explorations. In Skye 

 we had two days in which to botanise. One of these was de- 

 voted to a visit to the indescribably grand scenery of Loch 

 Coruisk and the Coolin Hills, and the short time that we were 

 able to spend at this loch seems to show that a more lengthy 

 exploration would be very profitable. Not that vegetation is by 

 any means abundant there. In fact, one of the most remark- 

 able features of the place, and a striking characteristic of the 

 rocks which form the mass of the hills, is the almost perfect 

 absence of vegetation. Still there are a few plants, and amongst 

 these are some of very great interest. In the foremost rank of 

 these is the beautiful moss Myurium hebridarum, which occurs 

 in patches on the ground among stones, or under the shade 

 of Molinia ccerulca, or of heather, taking the place in this 

 locality of the common Hypnum cupressiformc. The Myurium, 

 which is as beautiful as it is rare, was discovered, on August 

 26, 185 1, on one place of the north-west shore of North Uist, 



