232 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS. 



woods at their base. The ptarmigans are seen as tame as 

 pigeons among the grey barren rocks, and the black and red 

 game swarm upon the heaths, and the eagles descend from 

 the precipices and prey upon them all. The Saxifraga nivalis, 

 stellaris, aizoides, and oppositifolia, with the Arbutus alpina, 

 Hieracum alpinum, Cucubalus acaulis, Sibbaldia procumbens, 

 and Azalea procumbens, Cherleria, and some others are the 

 herbage of the Scottish Alps. The Arbutus uva-ursi covers 

 the inferior rocks, and the Narthecium ossifragum with the 

 Juncus and heath tribe cover the low grounds. This may 

 serve to give you a faint idea of the country of Scotland to- 

 wards the northern extremity. In many parts of the Low- 

 lands, especially near Edinburgh, great improvements are 

 made in agriculture, and in many places, as in the Lothians 

 and the Carse of Gowrie, the country is as fertile as in Eng- 

 land. In other places, where the soil will permit, the inhabi- 

 tants are making large strides towards improvements. The 

 people every where, from the duke to the peasant, are ex- 

 tremely hospitable and kind to strangers ; so that a recom- 

 mendation to one gentleman will frank a traveller all through 

 Scotland. I am now employed in making out a Scotch Flora, 

 to be annexed to a Fauna of the country by my companion, 

 Mr. Pennant. I shall be glad to have it in my power to comply 

 w th y r obliging invitation to Selborne ; but I cannot now say 

 when I shall be able to enjoy that happiness. 



The bee which frequents the Stachys, from the account Mr. 

 Yalden has given me of it, must be the Apis manicata, from 

 the spines at its tail. 



I am S r w tb great respect, 



Your most obed* hble serv*, 



JOHN LIGHTFOOT. 



