1 08 Trmtsactioiis. 



running streams, with strength of will enough to probe the 

 unsavoury mysteries also of stagnant ditches — with this simple 

 outfit there is no reason why any one of ordinary intelligence 

 should not soon become an expert moUusk-hunter, and not only 

 gain health of mind and body, but add his facts to the ever- 

 increasing sum of knowledge. 



II. A Day on Ben Lawers (Abstract). By Mr J. M 'Andrew. 



In this paper Mr M' Andrew described a visit made in 

 company with sixteen other botanists, under the guidance 

 of Dr Stirton, to this celebrated district. The visit to Ben 

 Lawers was made on Saturday, 18tli July, 1885, from 

 Killin. To botanize Ben Lawers alone, Lawers Hotel is the 

 most convenient inn to stay at, but Killin is more central 

 for the whole Breadalbane range of mountains. Dr Stirton 

 proved an excellent guide, as he has botanized the mountain for 

 all sorts of plants for the past 30 years, has been nearly 80 times 

 on the Ben, and knows all its best spots, and has made many 

 discoveries on it. The ascent of the mountain is neither difficult 

 nor dangerous, but it is very tiresome to " work," owing to the 

 rough and rocky nature of its surface. It is among mountains 

 of mica-schist like Ben Lawers that are found deep glens, rugged 

 ravines, and abrupt precipices. This rock formation flanks more 

 or less all the principal mountain chains in the world. The western 

 ravine is thus described — " Rocks of all forms and sizes, jagged 

 points protruding through grassy slopes, huge boulders over and 

 under which the botanist must crawl to secure his treasures, 

 dashing iiiountain rills, and splashy wet ground were the 

 characteristic features of the ravine." " The eastern ravine is 

 much narrower, and there are no high rocks in it — in fact, it is a 

 deep gully in the mountain with large broken rocks in it. At 

 the bottom of these eastern corries lies Loch-na-gat." 



Ben Lawers is the Scottish paradise of Alpine plants, no other 

 mountain in Britain equalling it in the richness and variety of 

 its Alpine flora. The Clova mountains come next to it, and in 

 many respects are a formidable rival. Botanists from all parts 

 of the world have for a long time, and especially for the past 

 thirty years, trod its mica-schist, and botanized in its ravines, 

 and have returned to it with increasing aflfection and admiration, 

 and yet its botanical treasures are not exhausted, for almost every 

 year reveals some of its hidden rarities. By turning up "Hooker's 



