26 HAKDY FERNS. 
A small steamer plies u-p and down this lovely 
lake, and you find yourself looking out for land- 
marks given you by Scott. The " beach of pebble 
bright as snow," the " silver strand," are there, 
it only needs " fair Ellen's " voice to take the 
place of the rough music of the paddles. 
Loch Katrine is a graceful preparation for the 
grander beauty of Loch Lomond. I can hardly 
fancy a lovelier picture than that which bursts upon 
you as you near the inn of Inversnaid, Ben after 
Ben rising in the distance, some brown, some 
blue, and some with bright patches of green here 
and there. 
I did not forget the Ferns. I spent hours 
hunting the hill-sides at Liversnaid. Oreopteris 
grew in abundance, with beautiful Filix-fcemina 
and other common Ferns. I had made friends 
on the lake with a gentleman, armed as I was 
with trowel and bag. He joined us in the walk. 
"What success?" I asked, half hoping he 
had found some rarity, half fearing lest his booty 
should exceed my own. He shook his head. I 
