82 A VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE MORAY BASIN. 



' Coupling this with the rare beauty and variety of the neigh- 

 bouring district, combining as it does extensive tracts of magnificent 

 forest, inland lakes, and a fine rocky sea-coast, the enormous sand- 

 dunes of Culbin, with extensive heather-clad moorlands, render it 

 the deau-idM of a country for the naturalist, in addition to the 

 reputation it has gained as a favourite locality for the invalid. 



' The botanist will find the country full of interesting plants and 

 ferns.^ 



'The Bay of Findhorn contains many interesting forms of 

 brackish water and marine Diatomaceae, and other interesting 

 objects for the microscopists. 



' In fungi the district is a perfect paradise, and although the 

 writer has no claims to be reckoned a fungologist, still in his 

 walks he has observed species of great beauty and rarity ; indeed, 

 some of the species seen seem not to have been recognised in 

 Britain before.^ 



' The Forres Museum contains the valuable specimens illustrative 

 of the local geology collected by the late Lady Gordon Gumming 

 of Altyre, many of which are of great rarity, much enhanced in 

 interest from the fact of their being original specimens bearing the 

 labels of the illustrious Agassiz. In the same Museum are many 



^ * Polypodhim Dryopteris and Phegopteris in profusion ; P. vvlgare everywhere. 

 Lastrea Oreopteris and dilatata, and Polystichum lobatum, with Blechnum horeale, 

 are very common. Other kinds would doubtless reward the industrious collector. 

 That little gem, Linncea horealis, along with Pyrola uniflora, both very scarce as 

 British plants, are found within a few miles of Forres. ' 



^ * A garicus Bongardii grows in profusion on the Culbin sands, and nowhere 

 else, I believe, in Britain. The beautiful and fragrant Cortinarius glaucopus is 

 frequent among heather in the pine forests, while in the Chapeltown Muir wood 

 the writer found, for the first time in Britain, the singular and rare Hydnum 

 scrohiculatum. Lepiota cinnaharina Terryi is also found here, and hitherto in no 

 other station, either in this or any other country. The splendid coral-red Amanita 

 muscaria, from which the Siberians brew their intoxicating beverage, grows by 

 the ton in the pine-woods. It is well our brewers are not yet acquainted with 

 the plant. These woods swarm also with highly delicate edible kinds, which, 

 were it not for ignorant prejudice, would be highly esteemed by all alike as 

 delicious and highly nutritious articles of diet. Among the most favoured and 

 wholesome kinds we find the exquisite pufi"-ball {Lycoperdon) ; Boletus edvlis, and 

 scaler ', Cantharellus cibarius ; Lactarius deliciosus ; Iforchella escidenta; Agaricus 

 prunulus, arvensis, Clitopilus and Tricholoma ganibosum, with hosts of other kinds, 

 in the utmost profusion.' 



