PURPLE SANDWORT. 33 



ocean. It inhabits the highest northen re- 

 gions, and throws a drapery of verdure over 

 the brink of terrific precipices. Enterpris- 

 ing botanists who ascended the lofty range 

 of the Bredalbane sweep of mountains, dis- 

 covered it in places where the foot of man 

 has rarely trod. Professor Hooker, and Mr. 

 Murray, gathered it from off the rugged 

 flank of Ben Lawers. Dr. Greville, in his 

 lonely visit to Craigalleach, found it growing 

 there, and Mr. Carle discovered a profusion 

 of the same plant upon the sunny slope of 

 Maelgreadlia, among huge masses of broken 

 stones. To such animals as frequent the 

 loftiest range of those high mountains, the 

 sandwort may perhaps afford a grateful re- 

 past ; or perchance some alpine bird may 

 stop in its upward flight to gather the fresh 

 seeds. 



Thus in this small tribe consisting only of 

 twelve families, how obvious is the dissimi- 



D 



