A FEW DAYS AT FIELD BOTANY IN SCOTLAND. 

 By Wm. West. 



About the middle of August, 1880, I started from Bradford by a very 

 early morning train, in company with Mr. Nuttall, our destination 

 being Greenock, where we arrived just in time to proceed further 

 north, by the Columba. To only partially pourtray the beautiful 

 scenes we enjoyed during this invigorating sail would take up too 

 much space, as the journey was a botanical one (though it was under- 

 taken on the plea of relaxation from business, and confirmation of 

 health) ; therefore we must confine ourselves more especially to the 

 rarer plants we saw. Many of these, even, we shall have to omit for 

 lack of room. 



As we steamed along towards Dunoon, the hills of Argyle stood out 

 before us in majestic boldness, and we were almost spell-bound by the 

 ever-changing loveliness of the fascinating scenery, as we sailed 

 rapidly along towards Rothesay ; but as we neared the Kyles of Bute 

 the entrancing view was still more inviting, until the climax was 

 reached as we rounded the narrowest part of the channel. As we turned 

 Ardlamont Point we saw the Peak of Goatfell — the highest point in 

 Arran — and soon after we arrived at Ardrishaig. Here we noticed a 

 profusion of flowering Polycjoiium ampJiibium decking the surface of the 

 Crinan Canal, and we were glad of a very short ramble along the 

 bank while the steamer got through the locks. FUago germanica, 

 Uieracium vulgatum, Ftychomitrium poli/pJiyllnm, Ulota phyllantha , 

 'Barhula ungiiiculata^ B. rigida^ OrtJwtricJium afirie, fruiting Dlcliodon- 

 tium pellucidum, Frullania dilatata, and Pogonatum urnigey-um we found 

 in plenty, after which we had a good run in order not to miss the 

 boat, being the last persons to embark. We arrived at Fort William 

 at 8-30 the same day, having seen the mighty Ben Cruachan and 

 the grand old mountains round Glencoe, as well as the monarch 

 of our British hills, Ben Nevis. The sail from the Kyles of Bute to 

 Fort William was one glorious panorama of the most charming 

 scenery, and it left a sense of the utmost enjoyment. 



Soon after sunrise next morning we began the ascent of Ben Nevis, 

 by way of Glen Nevis, this way being by no means often attempted^ 

 We first collected Vlota BrucJiii, and U. phyllantJia, the latter plant 

 looking like patches of Barhula tortuosa^ in the lower part of the glen^ 

 but as we intended coming back the same way at night, we only 

 N. S., Vol. vii.— Dec, 1881, 



