REPORTS ON EXCURSIONS. 299 



and the same might be said of Juncus casfaneus, a plant which 

 is unfortunately becoming rare in the district, but which we saw 

 here in great abundance. What appeared to be Hieracium 

 alpinum and H. calenduliflorum made a very striking piece of 

 colour as they stood out from one of the rocky shelves, all the 

 more pleasing because the alpine forms of this species have been 

 so nearly exterminated on all our hills. H. holosericeum, though 

 common all over the district, was not seen on Cruach Ardran. 

 A few plants of H. chrysanthum, var. tenellum, as well as a 

 considerable quantity of the species itself, were seen. Saussurea 

 alpina was abundant, just breaking into flower, while Silene 

 acaulis was just over. Cerastiuni alpinum was flowering freely, 

 and exhibiting two or three of its different forms. This we did not 

 find on Am Binnein. Among the grasses a form of Poa alpina 

 was gathered, which gave the conductor great pleasure. This 

 form was hitherto only known to occur in the Glen Shee district, 

 and its station there was known only to Mr. Ewing, who 

 discovered it many years ago. It is one of the well-marked 

 Scandinavian forms of Poa alpina, and is more attractive in the 

 growing condition than might be guessed from the appearance 

 of the dried specimen. A few stems of Aulocomnium turgidum 

 were seen, but no patches of respectable size. The usual run 

 of dry rock and bog mosses which affect such situations we saw 

 in abundance, but it was very difficult to detect any of the 

 rarer forms. Among the hepatics we noticed Jamesoniella 

 Carrinytonii. Bazzania tricrenata, Jungermania Mulleri, Pleurozia 

 cochlearifofmis, and the like common alpine forms, but no 

 outstanding discovery was made. After much unsuccessful 

 searching, Moerkia norvegica was given up. It is common on 

 all the adjoining hills. 



Blackhouse, 5th August, 1905. — Conductor, Mr. John Ren wick. 

 — Owing to very unfavourable weather, this excursion, although 

 arranged jointly with the West Kilbride Natural History Society, 

 was attended by only three. The party travelled by rail to 

 Wemyss Bay, and walked along the shore from Skelmorlie to 

 Blackhouse. Numerous specimens of the galls formed on rushes 

 by Livia juncorum, Latr., consisting of conspicuous tassel-like 

 clusters of leaves, were observed in a small roadside marsh. 

 Various microfungi were also noted, including Tilletia decipiens. 



