RENFREWSHIRE EXCURSIONS. 37 



the following fungi were collected : — Agaricus rubescens, A. semi- 

 orbicularis, A. mutabilis, A. ceruinus, A. appendkulatus, Maras- 

 mius peronatus, Russula cyauoxantha, R. heterophylla, Polyporus 

 st/uamosus, P. annosus (and the resupinate form of this species), 

 Stereum purpurea;//, Psalliota semi-globatus, Phallus impudicus. 

 On the same occasion the grass between the loch and the large 

 cedar of Lebanon was swarming with the " sweep," as Tanagra 

 clucrophyllata is called, a moth too striking to be overlooked even 

 by those uninterested in Lepidoptera. In the gardens and green- 

 houses the two plants which engaged most attention were a very- 

 old citron loaded with fruit, and a fine clump of Gaultheria 

 Shallon, a beautiful North American shrub, the white flowers of 

 which, flushed with delicate pink, are borne on secund racemes. 

 Castle Semple Loch is much frequented by waterfowl, and 

 within the mansion house is a case containing birds shot on the 

 estate, including the common bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and the 

 Egyptian goose (Anser egypiiacus). There are many fine trees 

 within the policies, beeches being probably the most conspicuous 

 for number and size. Near the house may be seen large examples 

 of the variegated form of the great maple, a large tree of the 

 common maple {Acer campestre), and an ailantus or tree of 

 heaven (Ailantus glandulosa). Not far from the loch and west 

 of the house stands a cedar of Lebanon, of which a reproduction 

 from a photograph, taken on the occasion of our second visit by 

 Mr. John Stewart, of Largs, is given in this volume — Plate IV. 

 This tree has the reputation of being one of the largest of its kind 

 in Scotland, but though it dwarfs all others as yet visited by the 

 Society in the West of Scotland, it is much less than the examples 

 at Hopetoun. It measured on the day the photograph was taken 

 12 feet 8 inches at 3 feet. It is now, unfortunately, getting 

 " thin " on the west side. Near it stands a large hornbeam. 

 From the hermitage in the deer park a fine view of the valley 

 with its chain of lochs and the surrounding heights is obtained. 



Barr Castle, a fifteenth century stronghold, now uninhabited 

 but in fair preservation, was visited in August, 1890, and the old 

 parish church (of which only one gable now stands) and kirkyard 

 of Lochwinnoch on the same occasion. 



The valley of the Calder has been twice visited. Among plants 

 noted on the first visit to this district were Corydalis daviculaia, 



