1857.] FIFESHIRE LYCOPODIA AND EQUISETA. 293 



We left Cleish Castle, having enjoyed several most delightful 

 walks amid the beautiful grounds. We then followed the road 

 which leads through the village to Kinross, about three miles be- 

 yond, where we dined and spent an hour or two by the side of 

 Lochleven, recalling the romantic associations connected with its 

 ruined castle and the illustrious but unfortunate captive once 

 imprisoned within its hoary walls, and admiring the wide curving 

 sweep of the dark-blue waves as they rolled over the surface of 

 the lake and laid the white yellow-eyed blossoms of the Water 

 Ranunculus and the shining transparent leaves of the Potamo- 

 geton lucens at our feet. The only plants of interest which re- 

 warded our search in this locality were the Chelidonium majus, 

 Rhinanthus major, Lepidium campestre, Ornithopus perpusillus, 

 Tragopogon pratensis, Potamogeton heterophyllus, Pilularia glo- 

 bulifera, Litorella lacustris, and Solanum Dulcamara. We ar- 

 rived at home after a very pleasant though somewhat lengthened 

 walk, quite exhausted and satiated with the varied beauties of the 

 scenes amid which we had spent the day, but yet prepared to 

 enjoy the glorious sunset drenching the whole sky with its oriental 

 splendour, and converting the Ochil Hills into a pile of purple 

 clouds, whose ethereal uniformity appeared transparent and trans- 

 vious, which met our admiring gaze when we emerged from the 

 dark obscurity of the Meadowhead Woods, through which our pre- 

 vious path had winded, and stood on the elevated ground beside 

 our home. Next morning I left for Edinburgh ; and here natu- 

 rally ends my reminiscences of districts which, for their beautiful 

 and romantic scenery and their interesting geological and bota- 

 nical features, are well worthy of a visit from every naturalist 

 and lover of nature, and amid which I have enjoyed several of the 

 most delightful excursions I have ever undertaken, — excursions 

 I shall not soon or easily forget ! 



FIFESHIEE LYCOPODIA AND EQUISETA. 



By Charles Howie. 



Selaginella spinosa, Palisot de Beauvois. Grows in moist 



places on St. Andrew's and Largo Links, Tent's Muirs, etc. ; it 



assumes a more strong, lax, and erect habit on high, sheltered 



elevations, as on the West Lommonds. 



