1887-8S.] optical Phenomenon seen in Gleiiure. 159 



found, on examining the victims, that the robin had pecked a 

 small hole in the ladies' skulls. Wishing to make the 

 acquaintance of the criminal, we at different times visited the 

 Winter House, in company with a couple of friends. On the 

 first occasion we were met at the door by the occupant, who 

 appeared exceedingly pleased to cultivate our acquaintance, 

 and did his very best to make himself agreeable ; and though 

 we also dissembled, the observant eye of the robin must have 

 discovered our real sentiments regarding him, as on every 

 subsequent call he made a point of being " not at home." We 

 were quite aware, however, that this was only a fashionable 

 fiction, and we knew well that on each visit he was quietly 

 watching us from some remote corner. 



YIIL— OPTICAL PHENOMENON SEEN IN GLENUEE. 

 By Mr WILLIAM COATS. 



(Read March 2S, ISSS.) 



While the Edinburgh Botanical Society's Camp was being 

 held last August in Glenure, one of the detachments, con- 

 sisting of three individuals — viz., Mr Grieve (our President), 

 Mr Webb, and myself — had an opportunity of witnessing 

 under very favourable conditions an aerial optical phenomenon 

 somewhat rarely seen. A sentence or two at the outset re- 

 garding the locality of our camp may not be inappropriate. 



Glenure is a wild, very slightly wooded glen, in the Appin 

 district of Argyleshire, lying almost at sea-level, and 

 surrounded on every side by high mountains whose bare 

 summits are but seldom without a covering of mist. It is situ- 

 ated about sixteen miles from Connal Ferry, and three miles 

 from the head of Loch Creran, an arm of Loch Linnhe. Its 

 western extremity lies due south from Ballahulish about eight 

 miles, while from its eastern end the head of Loch Etive can 

 be seen distant about six miles. The name signifies " the glen 

 of yew-trees," and tradition has it that at one time a large 

 number of yews grew in the glen. This is to a small extent 

 borne out by the fact that at the present time a tall, stately, 



