52 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



NOTES OF AN EXCURSION TO BEN LAWEES. 



(By Mr. James Allan.) 



The 9tli August was put down in our syllabus for the Ben 

 Lasers excursion, and at seven o'clock on the morning of that day 

 the members intending to go met at the Buchanan Street Station 

 of the Caledonian Railway. They were five in number, the Presi- 

 dent being the conductor of the excursion. As this was a two 

 days' excursion, more elaborate preparations than usual wei'e 

 apparent. Each excursionist carried the inevitable vasculum, a 

 small bag with some change of raiment, a good stout walking- 

 stick, a flask, and a good supply of sandwiches. All took the 

 precaution of having a top-coat, which should never be neglected 

 in mountain climbing. In due time the train started, and the 

 beauty of the morning raised the spirits of the party considerably, 

 in the expectation of a pleasant trip. On to Stirling and Callander 

 we were whirled, over ground well known to almost everyone; but 

 after passing Callander the attention is ri vetted on the surrounding 

 scenery, which is perhaps amongst the finest yet penetrated by the 

 railway. The Pass of Leny, the Braes of Balquhidder, Loch 

 Lubnaig, Loch Earn, and the sides of Ben An and Ben Ledi 

 present to the traveller scenes of beauty and grandeur rarely to be 

 seen. On arriving at Killin Station a change was made to the 

 coach, making a pleasant variety. The distance from Killin Station 

 to Killin Village is four miles. The drive is all downhill, and 

 the peeps at Ben Lawers, Ben More, and Loch Tay give interest 

 to every turn of the road. Arrived at Killin Hotel, a delay of 

 greater length than was at all necessary took place, which was 

 occupied primarily in obtaining some refreshments, and then in a 

 little desultory botanising. Within ten minutes' walk of Killin 

 Hotel the extremely rare moss, Habrodon Notarisii, is to be 

 found ; and learning that there was plenty of time, the members 

 visited the spot, which is extremely easily found, as all those in 

 the secret know, and were successful in obtaining specimens. 

 This moss was first discovered on the same tree by Sir Wm. 

 Hooker in 1830. 



At Killin Hotel, by the way, a letter was received from Mr. 

 Anderson, the landlord of the Ben Lawers Inn, with the welcome 

 intelligence that he could put us up. This set our minds at ease, 

 as it is, even for the strongest, no joke to find at the end of a day's 



