(j6 Proceedings of the Koyal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 



lochs in Kirkcudbrightshire north-west of this line, including those on the 

 border of Ayrshire, in the neighbourhood of Loch Doon, are mostly of the 

 nature of highland lochs. This district is characterised by mountain and 

 moor ; indeed, some of the highest mountains in Scotland, south of Perth- 

 shire, are found here. The lonely grandeur of its wild scenery, notwith- 

 standing the paucity of purple heather, gives it rank amongst the foremost 

 of Scotland's charms. Owing to the lack of good roads, the absence of 

 footpaths, and the exceedingly rough and often impassable nature of the 

 ground, the tourist seldom penetrates to the remote fastnesses where lies the 

 wildest of the fascinating scenery. The mountains, for the greater part 

 rounded and reduced by intense glaciation, are, where the rock is not alto- 

 gether bare of soil, covered with grass-like associations of plants which 

 afford pasturage to enormous numbers of sheep. The predominance of 

 grass-like associations over the mountains and moors, instead of heather, 

 has a great and important influence upon the flora of the lochs. Not only 

 that, but the pastoral life induced thereby stamps the inhabitants with 

 characteristics different from those of the people living in localities that are 

 chiefly devoted to sport, and engenders a higher type of ethics and a superior 

 social organisation amongst the rural folk. 



In the district of New Galloway, and in fact throughout the country for 

 miles around, there are a few abundant plants that form a characteristic 

 feature of this neighbourhood. They are as follows : — Jasione montana and 

 Lepidium heterophyllum in dry places ; Carum verticillatum and (Enanthe 

 crocata in damp and wet places. 



In continuity with a former contribution (ante, p. 971), I here call this 

 district Area IV. (pp. 100-127, figs. 1-45). 



2. South-east of the line from Gatehouse to Thornhill, the lochs of 

 Kirkcudbrightshire are chieflj^ of a lowland type, and the district is almost 

 wholly agricultural. The land is frequently very rich, and the farmers are 

 prosperous and noted for their wealth. There are comparatively few lochs, 

 and the undulating and often well-wooded country is frequently beautiful. 

 This district I term Area V. (pp. 127-136, figs. 46-58). 



3. Wigtownshire is remarkable for its great tracts of treeless, monotonous 

 and dreary peat moor. In comparison with the adjoining district of north- 

 west Kirkcudbrightshire, almost the whole county appears flat and tame. 

 The relaxing and enervating atmosphere of south-east Kirkcudbrightshire 

 is here in many places intensified. Agriculture is the dominant industry, 

 particularly dairy-farming, and beyond the intractable moss-hags the land 

 is frequently very rich. Those sheets of water that are situated on the 

 open moors resemble highland lochs in their general features. Those lakes 



