ll 
with which they are adorned. A little farther on, the road skirts 
the base of Ord Bain, where the limestone formation probably 
accounts for the extreme vitality of the larch in this neighbour- 
hood. Its slopes are clothed with the common silvery-barked 
birch, whose gracefully drooping branches, and conical, shapely 
habit, together produce an exceedingly beautiful aspect. 
On reaching the foot of Loch-an-Hilein, a beautiful sheet of 
water, fringed with dark, sombre pines and graceful birches, the 
Members alighted and walked along the forest road, bordered by 
stately Scots pine, larch, and spruce, with an undergrowth of 
junipers and tall ferns that seemed to find here unusually suitable 
conditions for their growth. On the opposite side of the loch 
the mountain sides were seen to be thickly studded with fine 
holly trees of great age and size, which were growing well, up to 
an altitude of fully 1600 feet above the level of the sea, or about 
800 feet above the surface of the loch. It was computed that 
many of the Scots pines on this portion of the estate of Rothie- 
murchus are at least 250 to 300 years old. The largest seen, a 
sturdy, massive-headed tree, standing between the road and the 
loch, girthed 12 feet 3 inches at 5 feet up, and another, barely 
equal in size but of better quality, measured 10 feet 7 inches in 
circumference at 4 feet up. A small islet in the loch, about 60 
yards from the shore, was an object of much attraction. On it 
stands the ruins of one of the ancient strongholds of the ‘ Wolf 
of Badenoch,” on the top of which the osprey, or sea eagle, has 
built its nest for centuries, and it is said to be the only spot in 
the country where the osprey now builds. The hen-bird was 
clearly observed from the shore, sitting in perfect security in her 
rudely constructed nest, beyond the reach of all prowling enemies; 
and Mr Grant said that every precaution was being taken to insure 
the safety of the birds. 
Parting with Mr Grant, factor for Rothiemurchus, on the 
confines of the estate, the drive was continued in the direction of 
Loch Moirlich, situated on the Duke of Richmond and Gordon’s 
estate of Glenmore, Mr Grant, wood-manager on that estate, now 
leading the party. After crossing Coilan Bridge, the road 
entered a long stretch of Scots pine of the second crop, giving 
every indication of a healthy nature, and promising to become in 
the near future a wood of the greatest commercial value. Here, 
as we passed along, there was seen, in a noticeable manner, a 
most instructive feature in connection with the natural repro- 
