1 88 1 -82.] Edinburgh Naturalists Field Club. 21 



work searching for plants in such circumstances ; but when any 

 good thing was found, one felt rewarded for the troiible. Towards the 

 afternoon we reached Meglis-alp (altitude 4800 feet), a halting-place 

 where jaedestrians find tolerably good accommodation at a reasonable 

 rate. This inn or tavern is surrounded by a few other humble huts, 

 principally inhabited by herds who tend the goats and cattle, or are 

 occupied in making cheese. It is the custom to send the cattle to 

 graze in the higher grounds during the summer, and Meglis-alp is 

 one of those pasture-spots where ample herbage and good shelter 

 can be found. The cattle have generally a deep-sounding bell 

 attached to their neck, so that the tinkling of these bells falls not 

 unpleasantly on the ear at every motion of the animal. The moun- 

 tains in the vicinity of Meglis-alp are very lofty, and almost inac- 

 cessible unless to practised climbers. Without, therefore, attempting 

 anything hazardous, we penetrated far up the valley lying between 

 the hills, where vegetation often lingers when the ordinary season 

 is past. In this way we had the gratification of meeting with 

 Soldanella montana. Primula farinosa, &c. It was also interesting 

 to observe in abundance, where some snow had recently melted, 

 strong and vigorous patches of our common marsh-plants, Caltha 

 palustris and Veronica Beccabunga. 



The following morning we rose at one o'clock to continue our 

 ramble to the summit of the Saentis. It was still dark, and by the 

 aid of a lantern we filed out of the valley, up the face of the hiU, 

 following a zigzag path, and round the ridges. The road was 

 steep and difficult for some distance, and rendered still more so 

 owing to the uncertain light ; but it was pleasant to feel the cool 

 air, instead of the beating sun we usually experienced during the 

 day. 



The configuration of the rocks was very wild and grand, with 

 great depths below, and snow-fields in the distance. Very fre- 

 quently there were immense fissures and cracks — unmistakable 

 evidence of what atmospheric influences and water can do in break- 

 ing up, disintegrating, and altering even the " everlasting hills." 

 This was one of the most distinct features of these alpine solitudes. 

 The top of the mountain was composed of a huge cone, the actual 

 surface being rather limited. On all sides it was steep. We were 

 curious to know what flora we should find at these altitudes. There 

 were certainly more plants than one meets with on the top of any 

 of our Highland mountains, most of them species which were 

 gathered at a lower level, though the higher ones were much 

 stunted in growth. A very pretty Cerastium (C. latifoUum) whit- 

 ened the rocks with its snowy petals, having a habitat much like 

 our Ben Lawers variety. The turquoise-blue Myosotis alpestris 

 was very conspicuous, though only an inch high. On the ledges 

 Saxifraga Aizoon secured an existence by clinging to the inter- 



