AMONG THE SOUTHERN UPLANDS 223 



I get into the very midst of them ; and having 

 once lost a track, at best so faintly indicated that 

 only a shepherd could follow, I never recover it. 

 More than once I have to descend my own height 

 on to a treacherous-looking black bottom, rendered 

 none the firmer by yesterday's rain. By sheer 

 persistence I somehow bore my way to Loch 

 Skene. 



The mountain sorrel is everywhere. The small 

 crowded flowers, rising above the kidney-shaped 

 leaves, are effective, from the reddish tint they 

 share with the rest of the family. Natural beauty 

 owes much to lowly agents. The wilds could better 

 spare many a brighter flower. This is a sub-alpine 

 that passes into the lower alpine regions, and after 

 that reappears, to give a welcome touch of colour 

 to the arctic lowlands. It is thus interesting, 

 as being one of the northernly tending arctic 

 alpines. 



The mossy saxifrage, so familiar in our gardens 

 for its cushions of much-cut leaves, is the com- 

 monest of the few three, I think sub-alpine 

 species growing on these hills. The other two are 

 the starry and opposite-leaved saxifrages. 



Still another plant the alpine enchanter's 

 nightshade is characteristic. The ordinary species 



