6 LANARKSHIRE RAMBLES. 



hollow and very old, but still vigorous. It measures at the 

 narrowest part of the stem, avoiding nodosities, 23 feet fy inches, 

 and at a height of six or eight feet divides into great branches. 

 There are some other grand trees in the grounds, as a great maple 

 (Acer Pseudo-platamis) with fine bole and regular branches, 13 feet 

 10 inches in girth at 5 feet 3 inches from the ground; a beech 

 (Fagus sylvatica) measuring 15 feet 4 inches at 5 feet 1 inch; a 

 tall larch (Larix europaa), 11 feet 10 inches at 4 J feet; and a 

 hemlock spruce (Abies canadensis) about 50 feet high. 



Beyond lie some romantic ravines known as Gills — the Fiddler's 

 Gill (Excursions 2,0th May, 1891, and 2W1 May, 1892), Jock's 

 Gill, etc. — where in season grow goldilocks (Ranunculus auri- 

 camus), herb-paris, the rare and curious bird's-nest orchid (Neoltia 

 Nidus-avis), and abundance of the lesser winter-green, which indeed 

 is quite a feature all over this part of the Clyde valley. 



The Clyde flowing eastward has still another leap to make at 

 Stonebyres Linn. The Falls here are very grand, though their 

 beauty seems less recognized popularly than the others. The 

 surrounding scenery is picturesque and charming with ravines 

 and woodlands. The flora is generally similar to that already 

 described. 



The naturalist, who is nearly always a man who walks, will 

 ramble on down the valley, and if his saunter is in the sweet May- 

 time it will be through a region of orchards glorious with apple 

 blossom, one of the compensations of beauty that help to atone 

 for scientific hardness. At Crossford he will probably turn up the 

 lovely glen of the Nethan and visit Craignethan Castle (Excursion 

 7,0th May, 1 891), which is mostly spoken of now as Tillietudlem, 

 so strong is the desire to fix here Sir Walter Scott's castle in the 

 air. This was probably the situation of a fortress of some kind from 

 remote times, and the present castle was erected early in the 16th 

 century. It was then known as Draffan, and there Queen Mary 

 tarried for a day or two before fatal Langside. After that the 

 castle was besieged and taken, and finally it was dismantled in 

 1579. It was purchased in 1665 from the Duchess Anne of 

 Hamilton, and the new owner erected a house in the courtyard 

 and called it Craignethan. Sir Walter Scott visited it in 1799, 

 and was offered it as a residence but did not accept. On the 

 ruins wallflower (Cheiranthus Cheiri) now grows profusely. On 



