90 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE  [Szss. LxIx. 
been afraid to attempt the ascent in broad daylight. About 
eleven o'clock there was a lull in the storm, and we were 
delighted to discern the straight line of the fence by the 
roadside at the foot of the Cairnwell. The remainder of our 
journey (six miles) was performed in a terrific thunderstorm. 
Rain came down in torrents, making the road ankle-deep in 
liquid mud which raced down the steeper parts with great 
force. The lightning flashed in the darkness with dazzling 
brilliancy, and the loud crashes of thunder overhead rever- 
berated among the hills in an awe-inspiring manner. About 
half-past one we reached the hotel, finding the inmates and 
visitors in a great state of excitement over our delayed return. 
They were arranging a search party, when, fortunately for 
them, we walked in. Next day, when we showed them what 
we had gone for—these plants of Gnaphalium norvegicwm— 
I have no doubt they considered it a great waste of energy. 
The landlord declared the plants grew in plenty by the dyke- 
side, a few yards from the hotel. He referred to the species 
sylvaticum ; similar, but quite distinct from norvegicum. 
For those who do not care for these long excursions, there 
is plenty of sub-alpine plants on the low ground to interest 
the botanist, and with less hard work. As I have already 
said, the rocks close by are very dry, so there is nothing to be 
found on them. Behind Ben Gulabin, Betula nana grows in 
marshy ground in considerable quantity ; and on the rising 
ground near at hand, Rubus Chamemorus in splendid and 
abundant fruit was noticed last July, also a few plants of 
Pyrola secunda and Cornus suecica. In 1885, Mr. Ewing 
gathered in the neighbourhood Hpipactis atro-rubens, but the 
station has been lost. Galiwm sylvestre, recorded by Dr. 
Buchanan White in 1886, we also failed to meet with. By 
the road-side, both above and below the hotel, Alchemilla 
alpina is Common, as also some of the grasses, as Avena 
pratensis, var. alpina, Sieglingia decumbens, and Deschampsia 
ceespitosa, var. alpina. 
Glen Lochaidh once contained a plant now extinct— 
Thlaspi alpestre. Dr. B. White records having seen it here 
in August 1886—only a few plants; and he adds, “As it 
appears to be very scarce, it is to be hoped that botanists will 
give it a chance of becoming more abundant.’ Whether 
botanists have despised that hope I know not. It is certain 
