152 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 



and its var. hispidula, C. fragilis and Callitriche hamulata, both with and 

 without floating rosettes, are all frequent, the varieties of the two species of 

 Chara being more abundant than the types. Juncus fluitans, Littorella 

 lacustris. Ranunculus peltatus, R. Baudotii, R. Drouetii, and Hydrocotyle 

 vulgaris occur sparingly, whilst Callitriche stagnalis is plentiful. 



As may be imagined from the nature of the embankment, a deal of 

 leakage takes place around these lochs, and a number of little pools have 

 been formed by the accumulation of the water in hollow places, besides 

 which, others have been intentionally made as nurseries for the young- 

 trout. Some of these pools are interesting because of the number of plant 

 forms that grow in and around them. Two in particular exhibit a large 

 number of variations in species of Juncus, chieflj^ of J. acutiflorus, J. supinus, 

 and J. bufonius. Others have curious forms of Ranunculus Flammula, and 

 at one the var. natans of Persoon is very abundant (p. 72). In other places 

 Marchantia polymorpha, X., covers considerable tracts of wet ground, produc - 

 ing its reproductive bodies, both asexual and sexual, in extraordinary abund- 

 ance. On the sides of a drain 2 feet deep that had been cut in the sand 

 only two yeai-8 previously, Blasia pusilla, L., was growing luxuriantly, as well 

 as numerous commoner Bryophytes. The Blasia also occurs abundantly at 

 some other places which are kept moist by the water escaping from the 

 lochs ; and on the sandj'^-peaty shores of some of the pools exposed in summer 

 by the falling of the water level, Botrydium granulatum, Grev., and Riccia 

 crystallina, L., were very abundant, R. glauca, L., and Aneura pinguis, Duon., 

 were fairly common, whilst Riccia Lescuriana, Atist., and Aneura latifrons, 

 Lindb., were scarce. 



The advent of the lochs on the previouslj^ dry, sandy moor has wi'ought 

 considerable changes in the flora of the immediate district even in this 

 short time, and doubtless others will follow. Where the plants came from 

 is an interesting problem, to which a satisfactory answer is not easily found, 

 but in all probability seeds and spores have been brought to the lochs by 

 water-birds migrating eastwards from the lochs of central and western Fife, 

 where most of the plants, excepting the rare Hepatica3, abound. 



Kilconquhar Loch is situated about a mile north of Elie, at an elevation 

 of 49 feet above sea level. It is a very shallow circular loch about | mile 

 across, and is so completel}^ surrounded with marsh and reed swamp that 

 the water can only be approached at a few places, consequently there is no 

 definite shore. The village of Kilconquhar is situated on the north side of 

 the loch (fig. 92), and the gardens of the adjacent cottages run down to its 

 margin. The ornamental grounds of Elie House, which are wooded or 

 park-like, adjoin and beautify the south side (figs. 89 and 91). Upon the 



