A PAY AT CI.OVA. 143 



be wrong did I rove among these floral beauties without casting a look from 

 time to time upon the surrounding mighty masses, which so calmly lay 

 bathed in the glorious summer sun. 



Having reached the summit, we proceeded across the mountain in the direc- 

 tion of Glen Fee, over a carpet of moss and lichen, the substratum of which 

 consisted of two lichens of peculiar interest, namely, Iceland Moss, {Cetraria 

 Islandica,) and Rein Deer Moss, {Cladonia rangiferina ;) and here we were 

 so fortunate as to meet with those two rare Carices, the handsome Black 

 Carex, (C. atrata,) and the Alpine Loose-flowered Carex, (C. rarijlora.) 



On arriving at the brow of the mountain overlooking Glen Fee, we had to 



descend by a very precipitous path, which required not only the use of our 



feet, but of our hands also; but this position, while it restricted our attention, 



at the same time brought our eyes nearer to the ground, so that the little 



IVIountain Cudweed, (GnapTialium supinum,) did not escape us; and among 



the loose and powdery limestone, we often saw the Mountain Avens, {Dryas 



octopetala,) but its large white flowers had passed away, leaving the feathery 



style remarkably apparent; Sihhaldia procuvihens had also passed its prime. 



The yellow cymes of the Rose Root, [Sedum Rhodiola,) were very conspicuous 



at a distance, as the tall plant sprung out of the almost bare parts of the 



rock. But the goal of our hopes is a rocky hillock in this valley, where 



almost side by side grow two of the greatest botanical rarieties of this country, 



namely, the Pale-flowered Mountain Milk- Vetch, {Oxi/twpis campestris,) and 



the fern known as Woodsia Ilvensis. Here then we concentrate our forces, 



and having climbed the rocky cliff, where Mr. Don first found the former of 



these plants, (and I believe no one has found it any where else in Britain,) we 



soon had the pleasure of seeing it there, and by anticipation in our Herbarium. 



The day is now declining, and we have achieved the principal objects of 



our ramble. Already it is a considerable time since, perched, like Crows, on 



a projecting rock in Glen Dole, we devoured the contents of our knapsack 



with all the relish which the mountain air, and a clear mountain stream could 



impart on a hot summer's day; and we accordingly prepare to shoulder our 



trophies, and to make for our lodging at Kirktown Clova, which is now nine 



or ten miles distant. On our way we added the green flowering variety 



of the Bcdstraw, (Galium vei'um,) and arrived Jiome at about half-past seven, 



well tired and well pleased. Some of our party, who preferred the quiet 



indolence of the '^gentle sport" to the more laborious amusement which we 



had undertaken, had provided for us abundance of trout, which with tea, 



milk, and other good things, which mountaineers appreciate, awaited us. 



Having bathed our wearied limbs in the refreshing waters of the Esk, we 



fell to, and afterwards slept soundly on our pallets of straw; having spent a 



day which will ever be prominent in our memory among botanical rambles — 



having enriched our Herbaria with a large number of rare plants, and stored up 



pleasant recollections which will not leave us till the latest periods of our lives. 



Blachhcath, March 2Uh., 1853. 



