RENFREWSHIRE EXCURSIONS. 45 



admirable order which at present obtains) that the surroundings 

 of the house are almost unique for beauty and interest. On the 

 main approach is a great maple of exceptional vigour, which, from 

 its favourable situation, may yet attain a great size (girth, 13 feet 

 at 4 feet 4 inches on north side), while a Spanish chestnut close 

 to it, but nearer the house, measures 10 feet i\ inches. On the 

 lawn are many fine young ornamental trees, including a Wellingtonia 

 (girth, 11 feet 8 inches at the ground), an evergreen oak {Querais 

 Ilex) 4 feet 6 inches in girth, and a strawberry tree {Arbutus 

 Unedd) measuring 3 feet 7 inches in circumference. Near the old 

 tower of Ardgowan the cowslip, leopard's-bane, and Saxifraga 

 Geum occur. In this vicinity are also a large ash tree (13 feet 

 2 inches in girth) and a large great maple (14 feet 5! inches in 

 girth). Another large tree measured in the estate was a beech 

 near the shore side of the woods (girth, 14 feet 5 inches). The 

 measurements given above were taken at the excursion on 18th 

 May, 1889. 



At the excursion to Shielhill Glen, in this parish, many inter- 

 esting plants were found, including Ornithogalum umbellatum, 

 Doronicum Pardalianches, Sedum villosum, Saxifraga hypnoides, 

 Mimulus luteus, Listera ovata, L. cordata, Lepidium Smithii 

 (sub-sp.). The last named plant is abundant in the district 

 visited. CEna?ithe fistulosa was also seen, but not in flower, while 

 the moss Neckera crispa was got in fruit (a rare occurrence). The 

 entomologists captured Chortobius pamphihts, Fidonia atomaria, 

 Coreiuia propugtmta, and C. unidentaria. 



