412 Mr George Bird on the Rarer Plants [sess. liii. 



inspires a feeling of vastness. As a home of an alpine flora, 

 it offers an extensive field for exploration. The Dovrefjeld 

 was visited by the late Professor Blytt in 1824, and a com- 

 plete list of the plants found at that time was published 

 shortly thereafter. It has since become a favourite resort of 

 Norwegian and Swedish botanists. Most of the alpine plants 

 found in our Scottish Highlands occur on the Dovrefjeld as 

 well as many of our lowland species, and many of the latter, 

 such as Geranium sylvaticum and Tricntalis europcca, are 

 found on the higher elevations side by side with the alpine 

 species. A very frequent plant by the roadside and in the 

 meadows is Lychnis alpina, its rich rose-coloured flowers 

 attracting attention. This species is rare in the Scottish 

 Highlands, occurring only on the Clova mountains. Silene 

 acaulis, Cerastium alpinum. Astragalus alpvnus, Saxifraga 

 oppositi/olia, Gentiana nivalis, and Prinmla farinosa are all 

 plentiful. Saxifraga ccrmia was in great abundance, usually 

 near shady rocks or by streamlets, the specimens in many 

 cases being tall (10 inches) and well flowered. This is also 

 a rare plant with us, found only on Ben Lawers, and then 

 seldom in flower. Some of the mountains are more favoured 

 tlian others in respect of their flora ; and perhaps the Kund- 

 shoti, 6700 feet, is one of those best known for its richness, 

 as on its slopes are found many of the rarest plants. We 

 had taken up our quarters at Kongsvold, and as Kundshoe is 

 quite contiguous, we had ample opportunity of exploring it. 

 I was fortunate in being joined in these excursions by a 

 gentleman from Christiania who was thoroughly familiar 

 with the botany of the district, having gone over it a few 

 years previously. On the morrow we ascended Kundshoe to 

 its summit, having previously made preparations for an early 

 start ; and, with every promise of fine weather we were full 

 of anticipations. Taking a conveyance a few miles down the 

 valley, we alighted by the river side to examine a shingly 

 lja,rdc. We ffjiuid Papavcr nudicaule and Artemisia norvegica, 

 brjth good plants, and characteristic of northern latitudes. 

 These were also frequently nuit on tlie mountain side. We 

 commenced to ascend the mounttun at a point where there 

 were overhanging rocks and ledges, wliich continued until 

 we liad reached a great height. It re(|uired very careful 

 climbin'f, ]jut in the examination of these rocks we were able 



