143 



a little beyond a populous colony of herons are already busily en- 

 gaged in the duty of incubation. 



The upper part of the bank among the wood is densely carpeted 

 with a profusion of the more common species of cryptogamics ; while 

 the cliffs below are in many places mantled with a profusion of Sax- 

 ifraga aizoides, now only beginning to expand its dark green foliage, 

 but which, when in flower, will light up these rough crags with a per- 

 fect glow of beauty. In many places, the damp rocks are widely cur- 

 tained with Hypnum commutatum ; while from the drier cliffs the 

 more delicate tresses of the ivy, the honeysuckle, and the bramble are 

 suspended in profusion. At these interesting scenes, however, we had 

 only time to glance, our object being among the cracks and crevices 

 of the rocks below. 



Our first descent was effected by a sloping bank, a little below the 

 village. This slope was covered towards the bottom with stones, ap- 

 parently tumbled down from the fields above. They were now cover- 

 ed with a close carpeting of mosses of various species, among which 

 we were quite delighted to find Bryum ligulatum, affine, and roseum ; 

 the first two fructifying abundantly ; the last, although in great plenty 

 here, as in many other places in the district, has not yet been found 

 in fruit. Bryum punctatum and turbinatum, Jungermannia Lyoni, 

 Hypnum loreum and molluscum, Fissidens adiantoides, &c, &c, were 

 plentiful in fruit. Leaving this spot we proceeded to the wet rocks 

 above the village, where we found, among a variety of other less interest- 

 ing species, Bryum marginatum, rostratum, punctatum, capillare, tur- 

 binatum, and albicans, Andraea rupestris, Anictangium ciliatum, 

 Dicranum pellucidum, Weissia crispula, Fissidens adiantoides, bry- 

 oides, and taxifolius, Hypnum alopecurum and ruscifolium, Bartramia 

 calcaria, Edmon., Jungermannia pumila, Lyoni, julacea, pubescens, 

 and Blasia, Solorina saccata, Sticta pulmonaria, Placodium plumbe- 

 um, Peltidea aphthosa, Nostoc commune, &c, &c. 



Bryum affine I have found frequent in the district, but seldom in 

 fruit. Br. albicans is also frequent but barren. Fissidens adiantoides 

 hangs in luxuriant festoons from the dripping rocks ; the fronds some- 

 times six inches in length. Bartramia calcarea was also plentiful, but 

 the seta? were quite young, and the direction of the foliage was very 

 variable ; stems with erect, and others with secund leaves were often 

 found on the same plant. Solorina saccata and Placodium plumbeum 

 were also abundant in fruit. Peltidea aphthosa was barren. Junger- 

 mannia Blasia was also in fruit. This I also found in fruit abundant- 

 ly on the day previous, in a wild rocky ravine near the Manse of 



