143 The Scottish Naturalist. 



mens of the rare Juncus castaneus were obtained. On the rocks at 

 the head of Loch-na-cat, Saussurea alpina and Erigeron alpinus were 

 gathered; and Athyriam, alpestre was found among the boulders at 

 the foot of the rocks. 



The party now descended the Lawers Burn, gathering on the way 

 Cornus suecica and Vaccinium uliginosum. 



On Saturday the ground explored extended from Lochan-na-lairige 

 to a point on the hills above Killin, whence a descent to the hotel 

 was made, The chief plants seen during the day were Woodsia 

 hyperhorea and CystopUris montanrt. Kobresia caricina was again 

 seen, in two localities, and a Meadow Pipit's nest, containing four 

 eggs, was found at an elevation of about 2500 feet. 



During the three days spent at Killin the following mosses, 

 besides other commoner ones, were gathered : 



Andrecea alpina, Cynodontium virens, Dicranella crispd, Dicranum 

 fuscescenSf Campylopus Schimperi, Distichiwn capillaceum, Barbula tortuosa, 

 JEncalypta ciliata, Grimmia torquata, G. funalis, Tetraplodon mnioides, 

 Splachnum sphcericum, S. vasculosum, Meesia uliginosa, Conostomum boreale, 

 Zieria julacea, Timmia norvegica, Neckera crispa^ Habrodon Notarisii, 

 Orthothecium rufescens. 



One of the party took a number of photographs of interesting or 

 beautiful scenes in and around Killin. The last detachment of the 

 party, which at first had comprised members from Perth, Kirkcaldy, 

 Forfar, Arbroath, and Montrose, left for Perth on Saturday night, 

 having had a most enjoyable and interesting excursion, and having 

 been favoured with excellent weather. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE FKESH-WATER AL&E OP THE 



EAST OP SCOTLAND. 



By John Roy. 

 (Being the Presidential Address for 1887 to the E.S.U.N.S.) 



IN trying to trace the progress of discovery in a particular district 

 or portion of a country, one is constantly hampered by the 

 carelessness of the older writers in the matter of localities. No doubt 

 many of our plants were known to occur in the N.E. of Scotland at a 

 very early date. But there is no getting hold of definite facts. In- 

 deed, Robert Morrison, who flourished in the 17th century, and who 



