441 



Forfarshire; the circumstance of its being confined to the road-side, 

 and not found on the undisturbed virgin soil around, would tend 

 more to shake my confidence as to its indigenous origin than the 

 mere fact of its sterility. 



W. A. Bromfield. 

 Eastmouut House, Ryde, Isle of Wight, 

 January 2, 1849. 



A few days in Canlochen Glen, fyc. By James Backhouse, Junr., Esq. 



8th Month, 1848. — Leaving our conveyance near the head of the 

 pass between Braemar and the Spital of Glen Shee, my father and I 

 followed the course of a streamlet that gurgled down from the hills 

 amongst loose fragments of serpentine rock, interspersed here and 

 there with glittering atoms of mica. 



The rugged mountains that cluster round the head of the pass, 

 were alternately enlivened and cast into deep shadow by incessant 

 fluctuations of cloud and sunshine, and large patches of snow still re- 

 mained on the southern slopes of Cairngorum and Ben-na-mac-dhui, 

 which overhung the distant valley of the Dee. 



Knowing that we were on the border of the richest botanical dis- 

 trict in Britain, many parts of which had never been explored, we felt 

 sure that rarities new to us at least, in their native localities, would 

 quickly greet us, and the yellow cushions of Saxifraga aizoides, with 

 Alchemilla alpina and many other old acquaintances, foretold treasures 

 beyond, in store for the diligent and careful searcher. 



Patches of Sibbaldia procumbens, and solitary plants of Epilobium 

 alpinum, soon studded the margin of the streamlet, and a little higher 

 Veronica alpina, Carex rupestris, and Juncus trifidus mingled with 

 them. A few steps more gave Juncus biglumis, Luzula arcuata, 

 Gnaphalium supinum, Epilobium alsinifolium, Carex capillaris, C. 

 rigida, Spergula saginoides, Juncus triglumis, and Luzula spicata. 

 Soon we reached some low rocks, the crevices of which were filled 

 with Polystichum Lonchitis, in every stage of growth. Bogs on the 

 table land beneath the Glass-Mhiel mouutain produced Carex rari- 

 flora in abundance, with Juncus biglumis and the newly described 

 Carex Personii sparingly. 



On the summit of the Glass Mhiel, at an elevation of nearly 4000 

 feet, Salix herbacea, Luzula spicata and Carex rigida formed the en- 

 tire herbage. 



Vol. in. 3 m 



