899 



hemisphaericaand Jungermannia epiphylla; and, bathing in its liquid 

 freshness, floated the dark branches of CincHdotus fontinaloides, and 

 Grimmia rivularis, [Brid.). Tufts of the elegant Didymodon capilla- 

 ceus looked out here and there from the crevices of the rocks, with, 

 more sparingly, Bryum androgynum and Hedwigia aestiva. Some of 

 the rocks were encrusted with Lecanora tartarea ; Squamaria hypno- 

 rum appeared in several places, and various CollemaB, particularly C. 

 nigrescens and lacerum, attached themselves to the exuberant mosses. 

 The trees were adorned with a profusion of Orthotrichum crispum, 

 Jungerraannia complanata and dilatata, Ramalina fastigiata and frax- 

 inea. On the moist rocky banks that margined the stream, various 

 Juugermanniae were abundant, and I culled, among others, J. Lyoni, 

 furcata, excisa, multifida, albicans, nemorosa, undulata, and, more in- 

 teresting than all, J. Blasia in fructification , a rarity amply rewarding 

 my day's exertions. 



I next morning breakfasted early, and hastened again to the Linn. 

 Crossing the Isla by the bridge of Craig T went down the north side 

 of the stream, and viewed the waterfall from a variety of points, from 

 all of which the eye feasted on pictures of varied grandeur. The sha- 

 dows of night had departed, and all was now distinct. The sunlight 

 sparkled on the foamy Linn, and seemed to penetrate the deep pool 

 beneath, while the wild cavern on the southern side opened its dark 

 jaws, and displayed a confused mass of the wrecks of fence and wood- 

 land which it had gorged in flood and storm. In the upper air now 

 floated the lark's sweet melody, and the thrush, from the yet almost 

 leafless trees poured its matin song. Wood anemonies and primroses 

 were profusely scattered over the rocky and wooded banks ; and the 

 thickly springing verdure on every side gave promise of a summer 

 luxuriance of vegetation. And as I thus revelled in the beauty and 

 magnificence around me, and thought of the bright and sunny future, 

 I felt with the poet, that — 



" From Nature and her changes flow 

 An everlasting tide of joy." 



My walk down the den of Airly, from there being no regular foot- 

 path, was rather fatiguing, but the rich succession of wild and rugged 

 scenery, varying at every step, proved a more than sufficient equiva- 

 lent. And I also added to my former stores, Anomodon viticulosum 

 in fructification, Hypnum curvatum, triquetrum and velutinura, Ver- 

 rucaria gemmata and Adoxa moschatellina. The vicinity of the cas- 

 tle was reached by noon, and at the base of the rock on which it stands 

 Hypnum atro-virens was picked, and a specimen or two of Equisetura 



