108 Transactions. 
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 mollusk-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‘Anprew. 
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, 18th 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 mountain 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 affection 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 
