22 Transactions of the [Sess. 



stices of the rock; and Silene acaulis (Moss Campion), with its 

 pink cup-shaped florets, flourished on a grassy slope, giving it a 

 distinct colouring, and, together with a bright yellow Cinquefoil 

 [Potentilla aurea), enlivened these lofty retreats. 



A good inn afforded shelter and refreshment on the summit, and 

 was largely taken advantage of, both by visitors who had ascended 

 overnight and by those arriving at all times during the day. 



On commencing our descent, it was still early, so we devoted 

 the day to a leisurely return to Meglis-alp, examining anything of 

 geological interest, picking up many good plants, and enjoying the 

 magnificent alpine views which were every now and again dis- 

 closing themselves. Leaving the ordinary track, we took what 

 looked a much more direct way of getting down, but in so doing we 

 brought upon ourselves an amount of hard work we did not quite 

 expect. We were not long in finding that in this case appearances 

 were certainly deceptive ; and as it seemed a formidable task even 

 to regain the road again, it was resolved to persevere in the direc- 

 tion we had chosen. I can scarcely give a clearer idea of the kind 

 of footing we had, than by suggesting that one of the mountains 

 had but recently been broken up into fragments, and the pieces, 

 varying from some tons' weight each to a few pounds, had been 

 tumbled down the sides of the valley, and allowed to sort them- 

 selves. This extended for some miles, so that it was a continual 

 scramble from one rock to another, the edges of the stone affording 

 a difficult footing. When we did reach the bottom, however, it was 

 not without a thrill of satisfaction, and, looking back, we could in 

 a greater degree realise the power of the physical forces at work 

 whereby these rocks were arranged as we now find them. We had 

 evidently been following what was the bed of an alpine torrent, 

 which in the spring carried the ice and melted snow from the 

 higher elevations, and it was stupendous in all its bearings. 



On the following days the weather still kept very favourable, 

 enabling us to continue our excursion to neighbouring mountains, 

 but the altitude of these being considerably lower, the alpine flora 

 was not so characteristic. The subjoined list contains the rarer 

 plants collected, omitting the commoner species, which were iden- 

 tical with those of our own flora ; and I am indebted to Mr Eobert 

 Lindsay, of the Royal Botanic Garden, for his kind assistance in 

 determining several of the plants in this list : — 



Achillea atrata. 

 Alchemilla alpina. 

 Allium lanceolatum. 



II pedemontanum. 

 Allosoi'us crispus. 

 Anemone alpina. 



Ti trifoliata. 

 Asplenium viride. 



Aster alpinus. 

 Astrantia minor. 

 Campanula barbata. 



It alpina. 



II Traclielium. 



II rapunculoides. 



Cerastium latifolium. 

 Chrysanthemum alpinum. 



