Ixxiv Froccedinffs of the JManical Society 



Stuartiana, the last found by tlie stream flowing into Loch Callater. 

 Fldeum alplnum, Veronica alpina, PohjiHjd'mra alpestre, Pyrola 

 media, and Splaclimim sphoiricum, were also gathered. The scramb- 

 ling in the corry was very difficult, the inclination being of the 

 steepest and "the screedano " of loose stones, washed from above 

 by the mountain torrents, very difficult to cross. They were 

 in many places covered with ferns of the commoner mountain 

 varieties, while Cocldearia gmenlandica and Saxifraga oppositifolia 

 were growing in the fissures. Altogether, in the corry the vegetation 

 is not great, but near and over Loch Kandor, there are capital moist 

 ledges for the experienced climber. In ascending the glen one of 

 the members found a red grouse nest containing three abortive eggs, 

 none of them much larger than those of the blackbird ; it is not 

 unusual occasionally to find one abortive egg among the others in a 

 nest, but in this case all the eggs in the nest were abortive and less 

 than haK the usual size. This was considered such an unusual 

 occurrence that the eggs were thought worthy of being placed in the 

 Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art. The place is so vast, so 

 weird looking, and so solitary, that no one, whether he be naturalist 

 or not, should fail to see it. On the higher ledges, if you met with 

 an accident, you might remain food for the ravens. The very sheep 

 are often lost here. Tempted by the sweet herbage they descend to 

 ledges from which they cannot return or be rescued. We heard 

 several men putting up a rocky barrier to prevent the sheep doing 

 what I have attempted to describe — although we heard them 

 hammering far above us, I am not aware they were seen at all — 

 some stones they sent down, however, might have made us feel 

 them. Several animals lost on the ledges were observed upon this 

 occasion, where they must remain till they are starved to death. 

 Although several of our members were always in view, no one could 

 feel otherwise than very solitary. Now this was on a fine day, what 

 must it be when the storm is raging, the rain and mist obscuring 

 the view 1 Our fishers killed a good dish of small black trout — 

 where they get anything but stray flies it is not easy to see. Still 

 they are numerous and take both fly and worm. When the wind 

 is high it is absolutely dangerous to venture among the rocks and 

 ledges. On the present occasion we had nothing to complain of on 

 this score, but on my first visit some years ago a speedy retreat 

 was made. Many hours were pleasantly spent on this visit among 

 the alpines, and we returned to Loch Callater Lodge at 6.30 with 

 full vascula, making a sharp start for the Spittal, which was not 

 reached till 9.30, all more or less fatigued with our exertions. 



