EXCURSIONS IN STIRLINGSHIRE. 121 



Earl's Seat, the highest summit of the Campsie Fells, and 

 Fin Glen were visited on the 13th May, 1893. Detraining at 

 Lennoxtown, behind which the Fells towered grandly in the clear 

 air, the party followed the main road by way of the village of 

 Campsie to the entrance of Fin Glen. Avoiding the glen, the route 

 was taken up hill in search of an ancient wall or dyke known to 

 be at this place. Directed by a farmer, the party was not long in 

 reaching it. Situated at a height of about 1000 feet above sea- 

 level, the wall is still, at certain parts, about eight feet high and 

 twenty-four feet wide at the base. Tradition has it that it was 

 built— very likely in imitation of the Roman Wall — by the 

 Caledonians. There is no ditch in connection with it, and, 

 generally speaking, it is higher on the north than on the south 

 side, the reverse of what a Roman wall would be. A short 

 distance from the wall lies a little mound about eight paces in 

 diameter and three in height, probably the burial-place of some 

 chief who fell in battle in those old fighting days. Close to this 

 is Clach Arthur, a large boulder of trap, named after a famous 

 Caledonian chief. From this point a splendid view of the valley 

 was obtained. To the east stretch the Campsie Fells, on the top 

 of which Crichton's Cairn was plainly discernible, and on the 

 west the double summit of the Meikle Bin was in view. The 

 varied colours of the mountain-pansy ( Viola luted), shading from 

 pale yellow to deep purple, were specially remarkable on the hill- 

 sides. Antennaria dioica was also seen here. The moor between 

 this point and the Earl's Seat was literally covered with a species of 

 Tipulidte, which, on examination, proved to be Tipidapruinosa, W. 

 The beautiful flowers of Rubus Chamcemorus were abundant on 

 the moor, and on the top of Earl's Seat Empetruvi nigrum was 

 noted. From the summit (alt. 1894 feet) a magnificent view 

 opened out. To the west lay Loch Lomond with its " fairy isles ;" 

 at our feet, looking north, were Ballikinrain and the Endrick Water; 

 while beyond stretched an array of giant peaks of the Perthshire 

 Highlands. Mr. John Smith contributed the following notes on 

 the geological formation of the neighbourhood :— " Our immediate 

 surroundings are of the most interesting description. During the 

 glacial period the ice in the valley before us was more than 2000 

 feet thick; it passed down from the Highlands, over-rode the 

 hills on which we stand, and has left along their brows a most 



