42 Dr. Balfour's Botanical Excursion. 



rufescens woro picked, tf ear Losset, in a glen not far from tho Sound 

 of Islay, Ribos rubrum grows in profusion apparently wild, along with 

 llubus idoBus and saxatilis. We got frosh specimens from Mr. Stuart. 

 Near Losset there is a lead mine which is worked, and there is abun- 

 dance of iron in the vicinity. From Losset we proceeded to the lake 

 of Finlaggan, or the Loch of Portaneilan, as it is sometimes called, 

 and collocted a few common aquatic plants. On an island in the loch 

 stand the ruins of tho Castle of Finlaggan, famous as the place where 

 the Mac Donalds, Lords of the Isles, were crowned. There is no means 

 of reaching the island except by wading, inasmuch as there is no boat 

 on the loch. The water is about four feet deep at the place where the 

 island can bo reached ; we accordingly had to wade up to the middle 

 in order to get a view of the ruins. The buildings seem to have been 

 extensive. There are the remains of an old chapel, with some anti- 

 quated gravestones, having swords carved on them. The grandeur of 

 this castle of the Lords of the Isles is now gone, and nettles and 

 Stachys sylvatica, along with other ignoble weeds, occupy the halls of 

 the Mac Donalds. On the walls of the chapel Asplenium Ruta-muraria 

 and Adiantum-nigrum grow in profusion, filling up every chink and 

 crevice with their fronds. The contemplation of these crumbling 

 walls, and the vegetation covering them, recalled to my mind tho 

 words of the American poet, who, when speaking of flowers as stars in 

 earth's firmament, and describing the various lessons which they fur- 

 nish, goes on to say, — 



Not alone in her vast dome of glory, 



Not on graves of birds and beasts alone, 

 But in old cathedrals high and hoary, 



On the tombs of heroes carved in stone. 

 In the cottage of the modest peasant, 



In ancestral homes whose crumbling towers, 

 Speaking of the past unto the present, 



Tell us of the ancient games of flowers. 

 In all places then, and in all seasons, 



Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings, 

 Teaching us by most persuasive reasons, 



How akin they are to human things. 



On an island near that already mentioned, and separated from it only 

 by a narrow strait, are the ruins of some buildings where the Lords of 

 the Isles held their councils. The islands were formerly united by a 

 drawbridge. On one side of tho island on which Finlaggan Castlo 

 stands there are the remains of a pier, and a similar pier exists in the 

 mainland. In the loch grew Phragmites communis, Nymphsca alba 

 and Potamogeton natans. 



From Finlaggan wo walked to Duisker, where Agrimonia Eupa- 

 toria, Eupatorium cannabinum and Festuca gigantea were found. 

 This being a limestono district the vegetation was luxuriant, and the 

 rocks were undermined in many places by tho streams. On our way 



