76 THE STORKSBILL. CHAP, vn, 



"My ten miles' walk I had yesterday evening. It 

 was fearfully warm. The sky was full of fire, but it did 

 not rain. There were great black mountains of clouds 

 in the air. It was a dead calm, with not a breath of 

 air. I was told that I must not go out, for it would be 

 a downpour before long. But ' he that will to Cupar 

 maun to Cupar.' My imagination told me of beautiful 

 geraniums (Storksbill), which I longed to see. Off I 

 went ! The clouds were in motion, but without wind. 

 It was terribly sultry. After a long perspiring walk I 

 arrived at my journey's end a small precipice, lined 

 with plants. 



" I was now at home intensely at home. The pre- 

 cipice was not in length a stone's throw. It was only 

 about twenty feet in height. But there I found many 

 most interesting plants. There were a few of the 

 Trembling Poj)lar trees, about four feet high. There 

 were Eoses and Willow Herb in flower (Epilobium 

 angustifolium, E. montanum, and E. quadrangulum). 

 There was Ardbis hirsuta, a plant I never get in Caith- 

 ness but here : Stone Bramble, Common Sanicle, Carices, 

 and Butterworts in scores. And in the crevices of the crags 

 ferns Male ferns and Lady ferns Black Spleenworts, 

 Maiden-hair Spleenworts, and many other plants. Among 

 the rest I found plenty of Rough Brome Grass a grass 

 I saw alive for the first time alive by scores. So here 

 was my reward ! Well, I am increasing in knowledge, 

 if not in wisdom. I hope to get up at one o'clock to- 

 morrow morning." 



A little later in the month he says " This being one 



