34 A Bryological Excursion to Ben Lawers. [Sess. 
to it. After gathering what we wanted, I said I was going 
up to see if I could get a look at the Ben. When we got to 
the top of the bank—which was of considerable height—we 
had our first view of Ben Lawers. Clear and temptingly near 
did it seem, although it was between four and five miles off. 
I wanted Mr Scott to climb to the top with me, but he said 
there would not be time to explore it that night. Hearing a 
noise behind, I turned round, and was surprised to see a boy on 
a Highland sheltie. “Hallo, boy, do you know where you are 
going?” “Ay div I.” “Where are you going?” “Nae place ; 
I was only bringing ower this horse—it belongs to this side. 
It was on the other side, and I was just bringing it back.” 
“Where does this road lead to?” I asked. “It used to be 
the road to a peat-moss, but it’s no’ used‘now: are ye gaun 
to the tap o the Ben?” “We are just discussing that,” I 
replied. “This is the best way up,” he said. ‘“ Will we be 
able to reach the top by six o’clock ?— it’s now twenty minutes 
to four.” “Ob yes; I can go in two hours frae the road.” 
He directed us how to go, which was of great service to us. 
Mr Scott consented to accompany me on condition that I 
would again ascend the next day if the weather was fine. 
We did not gather much until we were well up the mountain 
side, when I came upon a patch, about a yard square, of that 
rare and pretty moss, Splachnum vasculosum, with fruit nearly 
as large as small black currants and as black. It was the 
prettiest patch of moss I ever saw. The bright green carpet 
of leaves dotted over with the black fruit with their red sete 
was very striking. We knew this moss had been found on 
Ben Lawers, so were keeping an eye on every likely spot. 
I was now perfectly satisfied. These three rare mosses— 
Tetraplodon, Funaria, and this Splachnum—were worth all 
my trouble. A little farther up we came upon another 
marsh below a spring: springs of pure water, cold as ice, 
were plentiful, in which many mosses were growing, including 
two new to us—viz. Bryum Duvalii and Pohlia Ludwigii. 
Grimmias, Polytrichums, &c., were growing higher up, but 
better specimens were obtained next day. 
After a steep climb, we were on a nearly level stretch of 
200 yards, or less, between the conical spur to the north-east 
and the crag up which the path leads to the summit. While 
crossing this we heard, as if coming up from the glen, on our 
