24 A Visit to Glen Clova : Its Geology and Ferns. 



other parts it preponderated largely. The prevailing colour 

 of the syenite is dark grey, and is heightened, in some places, 

 by a considerable quantity of black mica. Higher up the 

 glen, we found some granite containing pyrrhotine (magnetic 

 iron pyrites), in which, the felspar was flesh-coloured, as it is 

 in the gneiss, which latter rock covers nearly the whole of 

 Scotland to the north and west of this district. 



In Glen Dole, which we explored on the Wednesday, there 

 is not even a pathway, except those made by the sheep ; and 

 after we had passed a short distance beyond Dele farm- 

 house, the last in Clova Glen, we did not see a single person 

 during the whole day, until we had almost reached the same 

 place on our return in the evening, when we saw a shepherd 

 on the opposite hills ! 



Here the moraines are much more frequent and clearly 

 defined than in Clova Glen. They are all covered, as are the 

 hills, with heather, which was just coming into bloom. We 

 followed the " White Water," as the branch of the South Esk 

 flowing down this glen is called, for a couple of miles, and 

 then turned with it up Glen Phee, where it forms a charming 

 waterfall, or rather a succession of falls, which, at a short dis- 

 tance, look like one, and from the appearance of the spray 

 give to the burn its name. The water, as is the case with all 

 mountain streams which flow over peaty soil, is of a brownish 

 colour. This is plainly seen in any of the numerous deep 

 pools occurring here and there along its course, and affording 

 good shelter for many a " lusty trout. " Here we found the 

 Brittle and the Toothed Bladder ferns, Cystopteris fragilis and 

 C. dentata, growing luxuriantly, with the Oak and Beech ferns, 

 Polypodium dryopteris and P. phegopteris ; the two latter are 

 very common throughout the Clova district at the bottoms of 

 the valleys ; also, in the moist crevices of the rocks, Wilson's 

 film fern, Hymen ophyllum unilaterale, and, higher up on the 

 hills, splendid plants of the Holly fern, Polystichum lonchitis, 

 with fronds two feet high. This was tolerably abundant ; but 

 we were unsuccessful in our search for Woodsia ilvensis, which 

 has been found here by Dr. Balfour, as has also the Woodsia 

 hyperoorca in Glen Bach-na-gairn. The Hard fern, Blcchnum 

 horeale, grows to the summits of the hills, though it is rather 

 stunted at the greater altitudes. 



On Thursday we visited Loch Brandy, a mountain tarn, 

 situated about half-a-mile to the east of the church, but at an 

 elevation of 1 300 feet above it, which made it a good hour's 

 walk, for there is not even a foot-path up to it. On our ascent 

 by the side of Corrio Burn, we noticed Lastrea spinidosa, L. 

 dilataia, and L. orco'pteris. The latter is very common through- 

 out the district. Polystichum lonchitis, P. angulare, etc., the 



