82 Mr John Sadler. By C. Stuart, M.D. 



for the whole brotherhood. Ben Lawers, Maol-na-Ptarmachan, 

 Cam-a-Creag, Maol Ghirdy, Craig Mohr, &c., are within reach, 

 and their Alpine flora is the richest in the kingdom. Here Mr 

 Sadler has conducted many a happy party, and introduced many 

 an ardent botanist to the beauties of Flora in this classic region. 

 No one cap ever forget the pleasure of a first excursion to Cam- 

 a-Creag and Maol-na-Ptarmachan, and the delight with which 

 he saw growing the snowy gentian, the mountain forget-me-not, 

 the "himmel" blue of the mountain Veronica, the green of the 

 spleenworts which fringe the moist crevices, the Alpine willows 

 and mountain saxifrages, the rare Woodsia hyperhorea, &c., &c. 

 Here, on the Mica Schist, in a state of disintegration, there is a 

 growth observed and a vigour attained by these Alpines seen no- 

 where else. Wherever our party began operations, even in the 

 far North, the finish to the excursion was generally at Bridge of 

 Lochay ; for whether at Ben Lawers, Cam-a-Creag, or Craig 

 Mohr, there is always, if the weather proves favourable, a grand 

 excursion to be had. It would be difficult to relate how often 

 Mr Sadler made returns to his favourite ground ; at all events, 

 he never tired of renewing his acquaintance with the Alpine 

 flora of the district. In the year 1876 we visited the West 

 Highlands, and ascended Ben Nevis on a very stormy day. 

 Botanically we did little. On the following day the precipices 

 under the peak were examined, Saxifraga rivularis and Juncus 

 castaneus being the best plants obtained, close to the melting 

 snow. Mr Sadler did not like Ben Nevis much, so we returned 

 through Glencoe, and got to Tyndrum early next day, proceeding 

 to Bridge of Lochay partly by rail. In the evening we hired a 

 vehicle and drove up Glen Lochay to a deserted farm-house 

 named Chirrai. Climbing up the grassy bank, covered with 

 sweet-scented Gymnadenias ( G. conopsea and G. albida) and but- 

 terfly orchises, we came to the roofless dwelling. Our friend, 

 ten years before when botanising, had lived here among the 

 herds, and, looking down, began in his humorous strain to de- 

 scribe his experiences. In the big kitchen lived the master and 

 mistress, with half-a-dozen herds, and a number of lasses to 

 mind the dairy work. Our friend occupied the other end, and 

 pointed out the remains of a waU press where he kept his plants. 

 At night the herds retired up a ladder or '* trap " to one side of 

 the loft, followed by about half-a-dozen collies ; the lasses re- 

 tired up the same "trap" to the other side of the loft. Shortly 



