220 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
being quite alive to the fact that in their elevated home they 
must waste no time. A few moments after a hard cold rain and 
they would fly, if only a glint of sun lasted a few moments. 
Tuesday, the 18th, was a repetition as to weather and 
captures. 
Wednesday, the 14th, proved so rough and cold that we 
determined to do a little mountain climbing up to the distant 
snowfields, so started for Ben Abord, which is one of the highest 
of the Grampian range of hills. Our path was a steady rise for 
some eight or nine miles up a charming glen, with a rapid 
brawling burn by our side. Several plants were obtained, such 
as Saxifraga stellaris, which looked very pretty by every rill, and 
Saxifraga azoides, more sparingly so. Hn route we saw all the 
British species of the genus Vaccinium, viz., V. myrtillus, 
V. uliginosum, V. vitis-idea, and the very delicate little V. 
oxycoccus. A few small plants of the curious Botrychiwm lunaria 
were noticed, and as we neared the base of Ben Abord we found 
the dwarf birch Betula nana, fairly common at one spot, whilst by 
the burn-side Arabis petrea grew freely. A few plants of 
Gnaphalium supinuwm were found, and G. dioicum was generally 
common. We now commenced a very stiff ascent of about 
another 2000 feet to the top of Ben Abord: as we neared the 
snow we saw several ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus). These birds 
breed on this elevated ground in some numbers. Near the 
summit we saw a brood of the young; the poor old hen went 
through some most fantastic antics to draw us away from her 
chicks, which, needless to say, we had no desire to molest. Ina 
sheltered spot we took our first and only Psodos coracina (trepi- 
daria) which was in a most tattered condition, so we presumed 
we were too late for this species. Here, Azalea procumbens was 
in full flower; also Rubus chamemorus, both of them being over 
at lower ranges. We were now close to large and deep fields of 
snow, the wind bitterly cold, but the ground was covered with 
patches of the lovely little Silene acaulis, quite a gem set in. this 
desolation. Fortunately for our object the air was quite clear, 
and we had a most extensive and impressive view of miles 
of this grand Grampian range. Still we were soon glad to seek 
a lower and warmer region. Passing over a large tract of crisp 
snow to a little burn, we found Caltha minor, creeping and 
rooting at its joints in the mud; although only a var. of C. 
