1858.] MOSSES GROWING NEAR SETTLE. 423 



Bealloch-bhui is in itself well worth a visits as exhibiting the 

 Pinus sylvestris in its natural state as well as^ or better than, 

 any other forest in Aberdeenshire. 



Before taking our final leave of the mountains and valleys of 

 Braemar, it may be interesting to note a few of its characteristic 

 animals^ which exhibit a striking contrast to those of our own 

 country. The wilder and more savage species are fast disappear- 

 ing, as the wild cat {Felis catus) and the black rat [Mus rattus), 

 in reference to which latter animal the same remarkable change 

 is going on which was effected some years ago in our own country. 

 The brown or Norway rat [Mus decumanus), which has only 

 been introduced within the last century, is rapidly expelling its 

 less powerful neighbour, and bids fair to exterminate it altogether 

 before long, as it has done in England. 



In the same way the alpine hare {Lepus variabilis) is appa- 

 rently driving out the smaller species {Lepus timidus) . The most 

 characteristic quadruped, however, in Braemar, on all accounts, 

 is the red deer {Cervus elaphus), of which there are said to be 

 10,000 in the district. As many as 300 are killed annually in 

 Braemar alone. The birds most frequently met with on the 

 loftier mountains are the snow bunting, brown and grey ptar- 

 migan, ring ousel, dotterel, and curlew. Macgillivray has ob- 

 served as many as 100 different species in the Dee valley, which 

 seems a very fair proportion out of the 340 species at present 

 known in Great Britain. 



MOSSES GEOWING NEAR SETTLE. 



By John Windsor, M.D. 



The following list of the Mosses found near Settle, is, I am 

 aware, very imperfect, but as far as it goes, I trust, correct. Mr. 

 Wilson, of Warrington, some time since, kindly looked over the 

 specimens I had preserved. — 

 Andrea a rupestis. Ingleborough. 

 Andrecea Rothii. Stones on the ascent to Ingleborough, namely 



on the little hill, plentifully, March 25, 1805. 

 Phascum axillare. Near Settle. 

 Sphagnum. Different species of this genus found on the Mosses 



near Settle. 



