176 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lxiii. 



observed of isolated specimens are, Ilex Aquifolium, 680 ft., 

 800 ft.; Pyrus Aucuparia, 1400 ft., 1600 ft., 2200 ft. 

 (the last only eight inches in height) ; JJlmus montana, 

 600 ft.; Bdula piibesccns, 1000 ft., 1250 ft, 1350 ft.; 

 Corylvs Avdlana, 850 ft.; Quercus Bohur, 750 ft.; Salix 

 aurita, 1400 ft., 1600 ft., 1800 ft.; S. Ccqnra, 1050 ft. 

 The range of cultivation and of plants cannot here be 

 taken as a test of the climate, except when compared 

 with those on hills of nearly equal height and bulk, 

 because as a rule, the higher the hills are, the higher 

 will plants ascend, with the more plentiful soil and surface 

 room. In this district there are five hills between 2800 

 ft. and 2900 ft. altitude, the highest being 2895 ft.; 

 while there are about the same number of upwards of 

 2000 ft., all being on the schistose formation. The 

 highest hill on the basalts is only 1729 ft., and is too low 

 for purposes of comparison. The moors, that is where 

 there is a more or less complete covering of Galluna, 

 reaches to between 1400 ft. and 1500 ft. 



There are many lochs in the district, being mostly on 

 the hills between 300 feet and 1100 feet altitude. Dr. 

 Magnin, in his -" Eecherches sur la Vegetation des Lacs du 

 Jura," separates the lakes into three divisions, " lac normal," 

 " lac de tourbieres," and " lac-etang." The first is the 

 common form, with rocky or stony shelving sides. The 

 second is the peat loch, always of small size in West 

 Inverness. It is witliout shelving sides, the water being 

 deep to the margin. The " lac-etang " need not be con- 

 sidered in regard to this district. Many of our Highland 

 lochs have features of the first two combined, in some 

 parts with rocky sides, in others peaty. Magnin then 

 divides the flora of the lakes into — (1) a zone of Carex: 

 (2) of riirafjinites: (3) of Scirpus; (4) of Nupliar; (5) 

 of Potamogeton ; (6) of Charuccce, according to tlie preva- 

 lence of certain species. There is no definite line between 

 the zones, most of the plants extending to one or more of 

 the others, but each has its preponderating llora. In this 

 district somewhat similar divisions may be used, but there 

 is no Scirpii.s zone, as Sciipus lacustris, which is the plant 

 taken by Magnin, is very rare, and there is no other to 

 take its place. After an examination of many of the lochs 



