936 



have elapsed since the pubHcation of Dr. Dickie's list that a very- 

 considerable number of species and localities have been added, but 

 many doubtless still remain to reward the zeal of future collectors. 



" The boundaries I have chosen are, to the north, the estuary of 

 the Ylhan ; to the south, Garron Point in Kincardineshire, about 

 twelve miles from Aberdeen ; and to the west, the village of Banchory 

 Ternan, eighteen miles from the same place. In this tract of country 

 we have almost every diversity of soil and situation, from maritime 

 downs and cliffs to elevated upland moors. The coast to the south 

 of Aberdeen presents an extensive range of low rocky precipices, 

 plentifully interspersed with coves and bays, with pebbly beaches, 

 marshes, and grassy sea-banks ; while to the north extends a bare 

 sandy beach, lined by a narrow belt of sandy downs or links, with 

 the estuaries of the Don and Ythan, and here and there a few small 

 marshes. Within this, and south of the Dee* occupying a smaller 

 space, is the usual tract of cultivated land, meadows and pastures. 

 Further inland are extensive ranges of moory hills, and at frequent 

 intervals scattered through the cultivated country are various moors 

 and bogs, as well as several lakes, some of which are of large size. 



" Along the sandy beach and links to the north of Aberdeen, we ifind 

 the vegetation chiefly marked by the great abundance of Ammophila 

 arundinacea, Festuca rubra, Triticum junceum, Carex arenaria, My- 

 osotis collina, and Vicia lathyroides. Other plants occurring here are 

 Cakile maritima, Cerastium atrovirens, Saxifraga granulata, Hieracium 

 vulgatum, Gentiana campestris, Armeria maritima, Plantago maritima 

 and Coronopus, Glaux maritima, Salsola Kali, Atriplex laciuiata, 

 Triglochin maritimum, Habenaria bifolia, Scirpus maritimus, Blysmus 

 rufus, Carex incurva, Botrychium Lunaria, and Equisetura variega- 

 tum. The Kincardineshire coast, as might be expected from its rocky 

 nature, presents some differences in its vegetation from that north of 

 the Dee. The plants principally characterizing it are Cochlearia 

 officinalis, Silene maritima, Astragalus hypoglottis, Ligusticum Scoti- 

 ciira, Mertensia maritima, Juncus compressus, Blysmus rufus, Carex 

 incurva, C. distans, C. vulpina, and Asplenium raarinuin. Besides 

 these, we have Gei'anium sanguineum growing in great luxuriance on 

 rocks south from the Cove, Vicia sylvatica, Erythraia linarifulia, Ca- 

 rex intermedia, C. extensa, C. muricata, C. hirta, Fesluca elatior, and 

 Osmunda regalis growing on a single cliff at the Cove. 



" * The river Dee, in the lower part of its course, forms the boundary between 

 the counties of Aberdeen and Kincardine. 



