of Ediiiburgh, Session 1880-81. Ixxi 



the occasion. Fording the stream about a mile above the shepherds' 

 houses, we held to the left, over the shoulder of the hill, and, 

 gradually ascending after a walk of seven miles over very rough 

 heathery ground, we reached a fine looking large corry, with rocky 

 ledges. On a closer inspection they were found to be dry, and far 

 from productive. In the course of our walk Ruhus Chamcemorus, 

 or cloudberry, was picked, covered with its red unripe fruit, the 

 whole moor in some places carpeted with it. The fruit assumes an 

 amber hue when ripe, and is pleasantly acid to the taste when 

 the mouth becomes dry in hill climbing. Cornus suecica was 

 associated with it, but not much in flower, also many of the com- 

 moner alpine plants. Sihhaldia procuvihens was very plentiful in 

 the turf, but the rarer plants were not to be found. After a partial 

 examination of the corry we halted half way up, on a steep slope, 

 and lunched, all agreeing that it was a relief after such a pull up to 

 get anchored to a stone. Some of our members worked round the 

 corry examining the rocks, while others scrambled on to the ridge 

 and reached the Sappers' pole at the summit. The ^^dew from this 

 point was very fine, the well-known Braemar mountains Ben 

 Macdhui, Cau-ntoul, Breriach, Ben An, Ben-a-Bourd, being clear 

 to their tops, and right across the valley dark Loch-na-Ghar was 

 very conspicuous. AVhile one party was busy in the corry, and in 

 good shelter, we came down ia furious showers of sleet, containing 

 large pieces of ice, picking fine specimens of Azalea 'procumhens 

 and other alpines. From the ridge, as we proceeded, Loch-nun- 

 Nean, a pictures(iue lake about a mile long, containing two green 

 islands, upon wMch the gulls breed, was visible across the valley 

 below. The elevation on the left of this lake is betAveen 2000 and 

 3000 feet, and it contains trout of rare quality. Persons living 

 at the Spittal Hotel have the privilege of fishing it, and there is 

 a hut and cooking utensils, where by roughing it one can spend 

 the night. In summer a pleasant excursion can be made by going 

 there in the afternoon, fishing in the evening and morning, and 

 coming down next day. There is a good seven mUes walk to it, 

 the last part of the ascent very steep indeed. The fish average 

 three-quarters of a pound, and many much heavier, being fed upon 

 a shell-fish abundant in the lake. Some of our members fished 

 there with indifferent success. Xear the loch was gathered a curious 

 variety of Sax. dellaris, somewhat in appearance like Montia funtana, 

 and also Armeria maritima var. alpina. In the CoiTy Tulaclian were 

 picked Veronica alpina, Cornus stiecica, Betula nana (a new station 

 for this plant), Trientalis Europcea, Asjjlenium viride, Anpleniuiii 



