238 PLANTS OBSERVED IN THE OUTER HEBRIDES IN 1894. 



North Uist, Beiibecula, and the neighbourhood of Tarbert, in 

 Harris, were the localities chiefly worked. A day was spent 

 between Kodil and Obe, the greater part of it on Rueval, a hill 

 which proved to be very unproductive, and a few hours in the 

 island of Barra. While at Tarbert, I accompanied Mr. David 

 McRitchie, a well-known Edinburgh archaeologist, in an expedition 

 to Taransay, where he wisbed to explore some underground houses 

 and lake-dwellings. Unfortunately, in consequence of getting 

 becalmed, when we at last reached the island we had only an hour 

 or two for our various investigations. 



The proprietor of N. Uist requested me not to visit the Lee 

 Hills, on the south side of Loch Maddy, on account of their being 

 a sanctuary for deer ; some of their cliffs looked likely to be pro- 

 ductive. I3en Eaval, the highest hill in the island, 1138 ft., is 

 most difficult of access, and want of punctuality on the part of 

 boatmen did not improve matters. The lower cliffs facing the 

 remarkably wild and picturesque Loch Obisary are very interesting, 

 and certainly deserve much more working than I was able to give 

 them. A dense cloud which appeared generally to hang over the 

 summit prevented anything much being done on the higher cliffs, 

 which, however, seemed to be very bare, as are most of the hill- 

 tops of Archaean gneiss in these islands, presenting few or no ledges 

 where plants can grow. 



The sand-dunes and sandy meadows, called " machars," on the 

 west side of the islands, especially in Benbecula, have an interesting 

 flora, and will probably yield more new records. The greater part 

 of the north coast-line of N. Uist and the whole of the N.E. corner 

 of it had to be left for a future occasion, chiefly on account of the 

 distance from head quarters. 



Of course it was impossible to explore the banks and margins 

 of more than a very few of the many narrow arms of the sea, 

 several of which are gradually becoming transformed into fresh- 

 water lakes ; and more so as regards the innumerable fresh-water 

 lochs, both large and small, few of which are at the same level, 

 and which in N. Uist appear to cover as great an area as the land. 

 These lochs are in every stage of change from a deep pool to a 

 quaking dangerous bog and a firm level green-sward. All the 

 small outlying islands require searching, but this can hardly be 

 accomplished except by a resident. One small islet, covered 

 with a thick deposit of guano, in Loch Maddy, not a quarter 

 of an acre in extent, was the only locality in which I saw 

 Elyinns arenarius while looking for Mcrtensia, which I did not 

 find. 



My best thanks are due to Mr. Arthur Bennett, who has kindly 

 gone through the whole collection, with the exception of Paibi and 

 Hieracia, marking new records and determining doubtful speci- 

 mens ; to the Rev. W. Moyle Rogers, for examiuiug the Rubi and 

 Roses; to Mr. F. J.Hanbury, who has named most of the Hieracia, 

 with the exception of two or three which he has reserved for further 

 study; and to the Rev. E. S. Marshall and Mr, Beeby, for kind 

 help with several critical plants, 



