PROFESSOR JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR. 51 
The hill is at first sight by no means promising and would be 
easily passed over by botanists as unworthy of examination. 
It shows us the necessity of not being guided entirely by 
external appearances and by what seem to be promising rocks. 
This is also seen in the case of such plants as Lychnis alpina. 
After examining the side of Craigendal carefully we proceeded 
towards its summit, and then by its southern side towards 
Braemar. In the evening we met Professor Allen Thomson 
and his lady with two Messrs. M‘Tear, who had walked from 
Lochnagar, and reached Braemar in the evening. 
Friday, 13th August 1847. 
The weather being favourable we this day started between 
6 and 7 (after breakfast) with the view of visiting the far-famed 
Ben na Mac Dhu. We proceeded in conveyances, accompanied 
by Dr. and Mrs. Thomson and party, to the Linn of Dee, whence 
we walked up Glen Lui, picking on the way Avradbis petrea, 
a plant which occurs both in the dry stony bed of the river and 
also on the rocks of Ben na Mac Dhu, Cairn Toul, and other 
hills. After walking several miles the cliffs on the north-eastern 
side were first examined. On them snow lies in considerable 
quantity, and thus alpine plants thrive well. Here were 
gathered— Veronica alpina in flower and fruit, Avabts petrea, 
Stellaria cerastotdes, Hieracium alpinum in various states, and 
Carex vaginata. The cliffs are, however, by no means so produc- 
tive as might have been expected. After visiting the cliffs we 
proceeded to the summit, observing on the way Luzula spicata and 
L. arcuata in profusion, and Silene acaulzs in beautiful flower. A 
fine spring exists near the summit. It happened, fortunately, 
that a party connected with the Government Survey were 
located on the summit, and as we had previously been made 
aware of this fact we resolved, if possible, to take up our quarters 
with them for the night. They received us kindly, and promised 
to do what they could for us, although it afterwards appeared 
that they were short of provisions. The day was clear and 
propitious, and we had an excellent view from the summit ; the 
Survey-party said it was the clearest day that had occurred for six 
weeks. Ben Nevis, Ben Lawers, the Braemar, Clova, Glen Isla 
