58 CAITHNESS FLORA. 



On the 24th of July he says, " Now it gets warmer. 

 The corn becomes half full of marigold. The heather 

 begins to bloom. I made for the seaside," he adds, 

 " and found a butterfly sleeping on the heather ! Poor 

 thing !" As the summer heat increases, the Caithness 

 grasses, plants, and flowers, make their appearance in 

 succession. " People in the south," says Dick, " think 

 that as Caithness is so far north, its flora must differ 

 greatly from that in their own neighbourhood. No 

 doubt the general aspect of a district in the south 

 differs very strikingly in its prominent features. And 

 yet, after all, we have very few plants that may not also 

 be found in the south. 



" The Caithness flora is not alpine not even sub- 

 alpine. I know of only three Baltic plants in Caith- 

 ness ; and of these only one is a rarity. Indeed it is 

 peculiar to Caithness ; for Caithness is the only British 

 district in which it grows. We have the Baltic rush by 

 the river-side. But then Juncus balticus grows at Barry 

 Sands, near Dundee. Last summer, I was much pleased 

 to meet the Baltic rush growing in a small marsh about 

 six miles inland. I was highly delighted. I had never 

 seen it so far from the sea." 



Robert Dick proceeded with the study of botany in 

 the most resolute way. He would take nothing for 

 granted. Where others had observed, he also would 

 observe, and verify for himself. Hence, with the 

 utmost toil and labour, he wandered over Caithness, to 

 see the plants growing in their native habitats. He 

 must find them where they grew, and study them, from 



