126 EXCURSIONS IN STIRLINGSHIRE. 



Carron. The stream was struck about a mile above Denny, and 

 both banks were botanised. The glen presents, in its surface 

 aspect, and particularly in the bed of the stream, features which 

 contrast strongly and in many ways with the west country glens 

 with which our members are so familiar. The part visited is a 

 pure mountain stream flowing through a valley presenting an 

 agreeable variety of contour, emphasised by being well-wooded on 

 the north bank, while the south consists of steep, sloping, wet 

 meadow-land. Near the top of the wooded portion of the glen 

 and in the bed of the stream, some very interesting geological 

 phenomena are seen. At this point the river seems to cross the 

 " neck " of an old volcanic orifice, the rock being apparently a 

 volcanic breccia or agglomerate consisting of angular blocks of 

 varying shapes and sizes, which have been discharged from the 

 volcano, and having fallen back into the pasty material in the 

 crater have there consolidated. Such a rock-formation will easily 

 lend itself to the making of depressions, each of which will 

 become the centre for the forming of a pot-hole. The grinding 

 on the sides of the depression will be carried on, not only by 

 stones brought down by the stream as is usual, but will be 

 accelerated by the dislodging of the angular blocks. The result 

 is, that at this point, the river is quickly eating its way down 

 through the stratum in a series of pot-holes. Among the number 

 of interesting plants noted were : — Mimulus luteus, Melica nutans, 

 Bromus asper, Milium effusufii, Asplenium Ruta-muraria, Peuce- 

 danum Ostrulhium, Akhemilla montana, Artemesia vulgaris, 

 Circaa luteliana, Geranium sylvaticum, Habenaria albida, H. 

 chlorantha, Triglochin palustre, and Viburnum Opulus. The 

 great display of foxglove {Digitalis purpurea) on the left bank of 

 the stream is worthy of mention. There must have been thousands 

 of plants, all in beautiful bloom, and, as they were on the steep 

 bank, the effect was most striking, even at a considerable distance. 

 Larbert was the point of departure on 21st June, 1890, for 

 the purpose of visiting Denny and the Carron. On detraining 

 a slight detour was made for the purpose of viewing more closely 

 the elegant and finely situated parish church of Larbert. The 

 churchyard contains the burial-place of the Bruces of Kinnaird, 

 and in it lie the remains of the most illustrious member of the 

 family, James Bruce, the African traveller — "Abyssinian Bruce." 



