1859.] BOTANICAL RAMBLES IN JUNE^ 1859. 325 



plants of Iris Pseudacorus with its golden blossoms just bursting 

 into beauty. This small lake is^ I should say, about a quarter of 

 a mile in length and half as broad. 



We next steered our course through the plantations for about 

 three quarters of a mile, and on arriving at the bothy had some 

 breakfast, and about ten o'clock set out for the " Moredun," the 

 highest top of the hill (from 17107^, great, and dun, a heap or 

 fort — Gaelic). Passing along the foot of the hill at the south 

 side, I soon discovered several luxuriant plants of Scrophularia 

 vernalis, which the gardener told me were plentiful, and on look- 

 ing up to the left, on the face of the hill among the trees, I de- 

 scried, I should say, about half an acre of ground thickly covered 

 with this plant, reaching the height of six feet under the shade 

 of the trees. I was struck with amazement at the profusion of a 

 plant so very rare. As may be supposed, I did not leave the 

 plac3 empty-handed ; I half filled my case with it, and congratu- 

 lated myself in discovering such a rarity. But if rarity is the 

 chief thing sought after by the botanical fraternity, I must inform 

 my brethren that this plant has nothing else to recommend it. 

 Its small monopetalous corollas are of a dirty greenish-yellow, 

 and as to its scent, it is disgusting in the superlative degree : 

 rotten fish or putrid carrion are fragrance compared to the odour 

 of Scrophulai'ia vernalis. 



Along the margin of the hill a more lovely object drew my at- 

 tention ; Anchusa sempervirens with azure eye looked vividly up- 

 ward to the sapphire sky above. This rare plant is also plentiful 

 here, of which I procured a good supply. In the same place 

 grew abundance of the two disputed natives, Doronicum Pardali- 

 anches and D. plantagineimi. The former is rather frequent in 

 the neighbourhood of Perth, the latter not so. These two plants, 

 let botanists say what they may about their being escapes from 

 cultivation, or express their disbelief of their being true natives, 

 I must confess that in my opinion, and as far as my observation 

 goes, they appear to be truly wild, and as much at home along 

 the margin of this wooded hill as either dandelions or daisies. 



We next set about the task of climbing the hiU, which, the day 

 being very hot and sunny, was no easy matter, especially to one 

 who has been a sort of invalid for several years ; however, as the 

 Scotch say, I *■' set astout heart to a stay (steep) brae," and com- 

 menced the ascent. After proceeding through a thicket of trees 



