of Edinburgh, Session 1879-80. xvii 



III. Notice of a Trip with the Scottish Alpine Botanical Cluh, 

 in July 1879, to Killin and district. By W. B. BOYD, 

 Esq. of Ormistoii House. 



The summer excursion of this chib was fixed for Killin, where 

 we met at the Bridge of Lochy Hotel, on Wednesday, 30th of July, 

 for the purpose of exploring the upper portion of Glen Lochy, 

 which had never pre^'iously been visited by the members of this club. 



The glen, as far as IMael Girdy on the one side, aud Corrie 

 Gouchler on the other, had frequently on previous occasions been 

 visited, and the results recorded in the Botanical Society's " Trans- 

 actions," but on this occasion it was proposed to confine our 

 researches to the upper portion of the valley. The day of meet- 

 ing was a most lovely one, and we were in great hopes that 

 the weather would continue fine during the excursion. In this, 

 however, we were disappointed, as Thursday, Friday, and jNIonday 

 were all wet, misty, and disagreeable, the only fine day being the 

 Saturday, which was bright and sunny, and, coming after the rain 

 of the previous days, rendered the atmosphere so clear that the 

 view from the heights was very extensive. Bridge of Lochy Hotel 

 is a favourite resort of botanists, being so conveniently situated for 

 the Breadalbane mountains, which are supposed to be more produc- 

 tive of botanical rarities than any other hills in Scotland, to say 

 nothing of the careful manner in which all the wants of the botanists 

 are supplied by the most attentive of hostesses. 



Xot\\T.thstanding the wet morning on Thursday, all the members 

 present turned out, and drove up the glen for about five or six 

 miles to Glen Lochy Farmhouse, where w^e left the carriages ; from 

 this point we crossed the river to the south side aud commenced the 

 ascent of ]\[ael Cliuirn, which hill was said to have some fine rocks 

 near its summit. The day, however, got so wet and misty, that, 

 although we had a burn to guide us, it was with the greatest diffi- 

 culty we coidd find the rocks, never being able to see more than 

 fifty yards in front of us, and only reached them after a deal of 

 searching in the mist. 



Most of the plants common to the district were met with, and 

 Cystopteris montana was seen in small quantity as well as Bartsia 

 cdpina ; after a few hours of very disagreeable climbing, most of the 

 party returned homewards to the carriages, not a little anxious at 

 the non-appearance of two of our number, who, however, turned up 

 later in the evening, having missed their way in the mist and landed 

 in Glen Dochart instead of Glen Lochy, where we had started in tlio 

 morning. 



PROC. BOX. see. 1879-80. 6 



