12G Notes of a liotanical Excursion to Braemar. 



ous as regards vegetation ; and as the day was oppressively 

 hot, it was with no small delight the party rested by the re- 

 freshing springs of the Dee, the highest of which is situated 

 nearly 4000 feet above the level of the sea. The cold ice- 

 like waters of these springs gush forth from the ground like 

 bubbling fountains, and take a meandei'ing course through a 

 dry and parched ground, until they fall into the mountain 

 crevices. They really are springs of water in a thirsty land, 

 and streams in a dry place. 



The rocks in the vicinity of Loch Ennich appeared to be 

 worthy of examination, but the party had not time to visit 

 them. Their next point of ascent was Cairn Toul, a moun- 

 tain continuous with the Breriach ridge, and rising to the 

 height of 4245 feet above the level of the sea. Here Carex 

 leporina was gathered in considerable quantity, this being the 

 second British station for the plant. Luztda arcuata was 

 also found, a plant which appears to grow on all the Braemar 

 hills, such as Lochnagar, Ben Aven, Ben Muich Dhui, Cairn- 

 gorm, and Cairn Toul. From the latter hill the party de- 

 scended to the Dee, after picking, on the moist cliffs, Poa al- 

 pina, Veronica alpina, and Phleum commutatum. 



The mountains at the source of the Dee seem to be well 

 worthy of the attention of botanists. The chief difficulty, in 

 the way of examining them carefully, is the want of proper 

 accommodation in their immediate vicinity. Much better 

 would it be if proprietors, in place of driving parties from the 

 Highland hills and glens, would give naturalists facilities for 

 prosecuting their researches, by providing shelter for them 

 in these wild spots. 



Our excursion to Lochnagar on the 16th enabled the party 

 to add to their treasures Mulgedium alpinum {Sonchus alpi- 

 nus), which was discovered by Mr W. Douglas in great quan- 

 tity on the cliffs, Saxifraga rivularis (some specimens five or 

 six inches in length), Allosorus crispus, which sent up large and 

 elegant fronds from the crevices of the rocks ; Poa laxa, and 

 the alpine form called by Parnell P. Balfourii, a remarkably 

 hairy Hieracium, with very long leaves, which seems to be H. 

 alpinum (3 longifolium, Flor. Sites. Carex leporina was also 

 picked sparingly in Dr Dickie's original station. On the 17th, 



