900 



Mackaii ? close to the water ; but E. hyemale, which grows here abun- 

 dantly, was all cropped. Further down the Den, among overhanghig 

 rocks, Bryum androgynum was plentiful with little heads of gemmae, 

 and Tetraphis pellucida bearing gemmiferous cups, and at its foot, on 

 a marshy bank, Chrysosplenium alternifolium displayed its curious 

 flowers. Well loaded, I for this time bade adieu to Airly, and after a 

 long smart walk reached Newtyle in good time for the last train. 



My second visit to the Linn was on June 24th, when summer was 

 glowing in all her loveliness. I followed the same route as formerly, 

 and in shallow pools on the " market-moor " of Alyth collected fine 

 specimens of Pilularia globulifera. The hedge-rows between Meigle 

 and Alyth were bright with wild roses that perfumed the air, and abun- 

 dance of Galium cruciatum shot up through their verdure: and upon 

 the hills beyond Alyth, Gymnadenia conopsea and Polygonum vivi- 

 parum were in luxuriance. The " public " was reached in time for 

 tea, and I botanized about the Linn till nearly 10 o'clock. The same 

 roar of rushing waters greeted my ear as before ; but instead of the 

 leafless trees, I now walked under a green umbrageous canopy, through 

 which swelled at intervals the deep-toned music of the ebon bird of 

 evening. My spring hope was now realized, for every crack and cre- 

 vice of the rocks, every nook and crannie, bank and brae, was loaded 

 with herbage and flowers. Galium boreale was abundant, and Meum 

 Athamanticum I never gathered in finer condition. Solidago Virgau- 

 rea, Crepis paludosa and Hieracium murorum var. y. Lawsoni^ reared 

 their golden blossoms from many a fissure in the clifi"s, and the sil- 

 very foliage of Alchemilla alpina adorned the rocks. Geranium pra- 

 tense was plentiful, and with Carduus heterophyllus, and the glowing 

 flowers of Lychnis diurna, gave a flush of beauty and brightness to 

 many a spot. Valeriana sylvestris, Stellaria holostea, and a host of 

 other common though beautiful things, crowded on the attention from 

 every side. The cryptogamic tribes were almost smothered by the 

 proud ambition of the higher orders of vegetation, but I still was ena- 

 bled to add several to my former list, among which the more interest- 

 ing were Peltidea venosa, Nephroma resupinata and Trichostomum 

 polyphyllum. 



On the succeeding morning I gathered on the northern banks a 

 profusion of Orobus sylvaticus and Melampyrum sylvaticum, and fur- 

 ther down the Den, Melica nutans and uniflora, Carduus heterophyllus 

 &c. But the stormy threatenings of the morning were soon followed 

 by a heavy rain, which continued almost without intermission during 

 the remainder of the day, and a thorough drenching to the skin tend- 



