1898-99.] A Lryological Excursion to Ben Lawers. 29 
that we have not paid our hotel bills yet; but there is this 
much to be said in our favour—they have never been rendered ! 
About 4 p.m. on the 18th June of last year Mr Scott and I, 
having left Killin railway station, were on the road for Ben 
Lawers. The lovely afternoon and charming scenery made us 
almost forget that the packs on our backs contained our camp 
utensils and food for three days. But after proceeding two or 
three miles we began to find out that to carry a provision shop 
on one’s back, on a hot summer day, and at the same time 
search carefully for botanical specimens, was no light task. 
It certainly did not suggest a holiday. But to the general 
holiday tourist a better or a prettier road could not be found. 
Even before leaving Killin station, the view is magnificent. 
Here we are at the meeting of three glens, in the very heart of 
lofty mountains. Richly wooded scenery is around us in the 
foreground ; above tower the bare rugged mountains; while to 
the north-east is seen the long stretch of Loch Tay—the 
narrow gorge leading to Glen Lochay to the north-west, and 
to Glen Dochart with its river on the south-west. 
Shortly after crossing Lochay bridge the small but romantic 
Finlarig burn is passed. Across the bridge, keeping to the 
right, the road leads to Ben Lawers. At each fresh turn a new 
and charming view appears. On the other side of Loch Tay 
are seen the beautiful mansion and wooded park of Achmore, 
where one of the largest vines in Britain grows. A little 
farther on a splendid view is obtained of Killin pier, with the 
woods and old castle of Finlarig to the right. But what is the 
use of selecting particular views, or endeavouring to describe 
them ?—+o realise the beauty of Lochtay-side it must be seen. 
The object of Mr Scott and myself was to gather mosses, 
and we began our collecting at the Larig burn. There was no 
necessity for us to leave the main road—every tree, bank, 
dyke, and rock was covered. Many of the plants were, of 
course, of common species, but we also got a number of rare 
and fine specimens. In the crevices of the wall of the bridge 
over the Larig there were quantities of Leersia contorta, Bryum 
capillare, two or three Tortulas, &. On the trees we gathered 
Weissia Bruchii, Orthotrichum affine, O. Lyellii, and Hypnum 
cupressiforme, var. filiforme. At the top of a bank at the 
roadside a lovely curtain of Antitrichia curtipendula hung over 
a rock in festoons a foot in length. Farther on many rare 
