222 

 A VISIT TO BRAEMAR I]^ 1855. 



BY W. SUTHERLAND, ESQ. 

 ( Continued from page 20-1.^ 



We now gradually emerge from what, in the case of this particular hill, 

 may be called the region of birches, which now began to dwindle rapidly in 

 size as we increased our elevation, and found the vegetation assuming more 

 of a sub-alpine character. About this point occurs, perhaps, the highest 

 cultivated ground in Scotland, probably in Britain, in the shape of a few 

 oat and potatoe fields — green patches, which, as seen from a distance, give 

 a pleasant variety to the landscape. A little further on, upon a mass of 

 limestone, which seems in its continuation downwards to underlie the birches, 

 and again makes its appearance at the bridge over the Clunie, in the 

 village, we found on its somewhat bare and unpromising surface, such 

 plants as Heliantliemum vulgarc, Potentilla alpesfris^ Rubits saxatilis, Arahis 

 Mrsuia, etc. Here also Mr. C. was fortunate enough in discovering two 

 rather rare mosses — Gyninostomum Donianum and Weissia latifolia. In the 

 loose pile of stones lying at its base, we gathered Asplenium viride, which, 

 as it was my first acquaintance with this beautiful little Fern, I had some 

 difficulty in not confounding with a commoner congener, A. trichomanes, 

 likewise occurring in the district, although the same difficulty is not likely 

 to occur again, as I, there and then, carefully dislodged a young plant 

 of it, and have duly consigned it to the somewhat narrow precincts of a 

 city flower-pot— quarters with which it seems in no way inclined to quarrel, 

 as even now (March) it is gradually uncoiling its little verdant fronds. A 

 Ci/stopteris also occurred here, which seemed to belong to the dentate group 

 of that very variable genus. In such localities a large collection of mosses 

 and lichens, not exclusively confined to very high altitudes, might be made. 

 In the cursory inspection which our time allowed us to make, we gathered, 

 amongst others, Anictavgium ciliatum, Tdchostomum lanuginosum, in dense 

 bosky sheets, overspreading the smaller rocks; Bartramia pomiformis, 

 Encahjpta ciliata, Dicranum scoparium, (with several varieties,) Lecanora 

 ventosa, and other common lichens. 



As we have already remarked, the vegetation was gradually diverging 

 from the type of the plain, and at every step giving indications of our 

 increasing elevation, the order of the predominant plants as we ascend is 

 as follows: — Briza media, Melampyrum pratense, with flowers much modified, 

 both in size and colour, from their brethren of the plain, being smaller, 

 and of a lighter tinge; Hahenaria viridis, Juniperus communis, Narthecium 

 ossifragum, Eriophorum vaginatum, Salix fusca, scarcely appearing above 

 the long heath, {Calluna vulgaris,) Lasfrtxa Oreopteris, perhaps the com- 

 monest of our Shield Ferns in such localities, Pohjpodium dryopteris, Fyrola 



