18 FLORA OF EASTERNESS, ELGIN, BANFF, AND WEST ROSS. 



size. The loch is a fine piece of water more than a mile long, 

 and surrounded on three sides by magnificent cliffs rivalling 

 Canlochen, and surpassing Callater and the Dole. Overhanging 

 the western side is the precipitous Sgoran Dubh, the conies of 

 Braeriach being on the east; Cairntoul is on the south-east, 

 but its summit is not visible from the glen. A lower range of 

 cliffs, which are also less steep, are on the south side, and down 

 them pours a pretty waterfall from the little Lochan nan Cnapan, 

 situate on the table-land above, at an elevation of 2850 feet. Loch 

 Ennich is about 1700 feet above the sea level, the summit of 

 Sgoran Dubh being 3658 feet. So that in half a mile of actual 

 distance a descent of 2000 feet is made, a degree of steepness 

 difficult to match in Scotland. As may be imagined, the scenery 

 is of a very wild and magnificent character. The golden eagle's 

 nest was in the glen, and I saw some snow buntings on the cliffs. 



vaginata, Saussurea, Saxif 







champsia alpina, Poa alpina, Salix Lapponum, S. Myrsinites, Lu:ul< 



arcuata, Lycopodium annotinum, and a large variety of Hieracia, 

 including nigrescens, ccesium, senescens, pallidum, aggregation, au<jlicion, 

 lingulatum, holosericeum, eximium, and globosum. I worked round 

 the glen, and then scarcely relished the eleven miles walk back to 

 Aviemore. I paid it another visit later on, but drove all the 

 way to the loch, and was thus enabled to climb the cliffs of the 

 Sgoran Dubh ; these, however, yielded little besides Hieracia, the 

 rocks being too steep and dry. Isoetes was in the loch. 



Another day was spent in the Corrie Leacainn of Cairngorm, 



which like Sneachda had plenty of Saxi/raga rivularis , also Alopeciirus 

 alpinus and Phi earn alpinum. I then climbed Ben McDhu and 

 visited the upper end of Loch A'an. Glen Avon, and the mountains 

 bordering the loch were quite sufficient for a whole day, which was 

 enlivened by fine mountain grasses and many Hieracia, including 

 lingidatum, as well as by a feast of ripe M evrons." The scenery 

 by the Shelter Stone is very imposing and the place secluded 

 enough for the eagles to nest. The snow was much less in 

 quantity than for many years past. 



A delightful day was spent in walking along the Findhorn 

 from Dunphail to Forres. This yielded the same variety of 

 Melampyrum proteose, which I first found in Wigtonshire, and 

 which Father Eeader has since gathered in Northumberland and 

 Westmoreland. 



After a few days spent among the lochs, I went north to Loch 

 Maree, but here, as usual, the weather was wet and detestable. I 

 climbed Ben Eay, Arabis petraa and Arbutus alpina rewarding the 

 labour ; but the weather, the intolerable midges, and the asperities 

 of a Scotch Sabbath, were enough to drive one eastward to Elgin- 



I have to thank Mr. Arthur Bennett, Dr. Buchanan White, and 



Bennett 



assistance. 



means 

 jkiner h 



+ means that personal 



