A Visit to Glen Clova : Its Geology and Ferns. 29 



wood that are found in the mossy and marshy grounds. In 

 some of the hilly parts of Tarfcary and India, the nations still 

 vitrify their forts instead of using cement. 



We saw on our road several stone and " slate" quarries, 

 in which we found several tails, spines, and teeth of fossil 

 fish, but were not so fortunate as to obtain a specimen in any- 

 thing like a perfect condition. The upper beds of the old 

 red sandstone formation are very compact, and having good 

 cleavage planes, are used as roofing-slates in the neighbour- 

 hood. 



Near one of these quarries some soil had recently been 

 removed, laying bare the surface of the rock, on which were 

 well-defined glacial markings, and which, from their direction, 

 had evidently been made by a glacier coming from Glens 

 Prosen and Clova. In a field near Aberlemno are two of 

 those curious sculptured stones, of which a good many exist 

 in this part of Scotland, and concerning which volumes of 

 theories have been written, conclusively proving that nothing 

 whatever is known about them, neither by whom or for what 

 purpose they were erected. They had figures of horses and 

 men, and an ornament like a pair of spectacles, amongst other 

 symbols, carved on them. 



On the commencement of the following week we went by 

 rail to Kirriemuir, a small town, six miles W. by N. from 

 Forfar, and then drove to the Den of Airlie, twelve miles 

 further. The Den is a most beautiful ravine, formed by the 

 Airlie river, which flows down it. In some parts the sides are 

 quite perpendicular, and over 400 feet in height, while in 

 others they slope more gradually. The valley is well wooded, 

 and in the shade and moisture many species of ferns abound, 

 the most noteworthy of which is the Green Spleenwort, Asple- 

 nium viride. 



We walked up the valley from Airlie Castle to the Reeky 

 Linn, a magnificent waterfall, sixty feet in height. It is said 

 to be oue of the finest in Scotland. We returned to Kirrie- 

 muir by way of Lentrathan Loch and through Kingoldrum. 



Kirriemuir is within an easy walk of Clova; and if any of 

 our readers are in search of a place whereat to spend the 

 holidays, we strongly recommend to their notice the latter; 

 and to a lover of botany it is extremely attractive, for 

 in few localities of equal size in the British isles have so many 

 rare plants been noticed. And last, but not least, there is a 

 very comfortable hotel, where the charges are very moderate, 

 for at present this district has not been overrun by tourists. 



