36 TOUR IN SCOTLAND. [February, 



For the bonny holms of Yarrow let " the views from proud Ben 

 Lawers " be substituted. But we believe naturalists are not often 

 troubled with the megrims or vapours. They need not go to Ben 

 Lawers nor to any other remote locality to dissipate their melan- 

 choly. Wimbledon Common, RoehamptoUj and Putney Heaths, 

 even the Isle of Dogs, Woolwich and Plumstead Marshes, have 

 charms for the fraternity. Botanists have excitements of a simple 

 nature, capable of curing any attack of dulness or " spirits low." 



It was certainly to be regretted that time did not permit us to 

 remain longer, for the next day was clear and fine too, from 

 end to end; but as arrangements had been made for our re- 

 turning, return Ave did, -every now and then looking back and 

 regretting that the weather was not so propitious during our stay 

 as it was on our departure. We had however the pleasure of 

 learning, on authority which we have no permission to state, 



but in which we have the fullest confidence, that this very season 



J ^ . . . J v^ 



^Alsine rubella, Saxifraga cernua, Gefitiana nivalis, and Dryas 



octopetala had all been collected on Ben Lawers, and in flower. 



From the same authority a more important item of intelligence 



is derived, viz. that Veronica friiticulosa had been rediscovered 



on Ben Lawers. 



This fact, which we hope duly to announce, will render the fol- 

 lowing extract from the first volume of the 'Enghsh Flora,' 

 p. 18, deeply interesting to British botanists : — " V. fruticulosa, 

 Lin., etc. On the mountains of Scotland and in wet places. 

 Gathered on Ben Cruachan, in Argyleshire, by the Rev. Dr. 

 Walker, from whose original plant, cultivated in his garden, I 

 have specimens. Mr. E.. Brown, whose accuracy is also beyond 

 all doubt or ' supposition,' told me he found this plant on Ben 

 Lawers. I trust no further confirmation is necessary to esta- 

 blish it a native." 



Most of us are aware of the generally prevalent presumption 

 that Hierochloe borealis had never really been found wild in Scot- 

 land ; yet this plant was, only about a couple of years ago, redis- 

 covered at a great distance from its first announced Scottish loca- 

 lity. The particulars of this more recent rediscovery of a Scottish 

 native is expected with some impatience. 



