210 THE ERESH-WATER LOCHS OE SCOTLAND 
rostrata, Equisetum limosum, and Phragmites communis abound in 
sheltered bays. No unusual features, nor any but ordinary plants, 
were observed. There are several islands in the loch ; its shores are 
well wooded, and it presents a very pleasing piece of highland scenery. 
Loch nan Lann possesses great natural beauty. It is smaller than its 
neighbour. Loch Knockie, which in general features it closely resembles. 
Its flora is composed of species usually found in the lochs of this Area. 
Loch TarfF is 956 feet above sea-level ; its shores are mostly 
stony and rocky, and its water is peaty. It lies in an open, wind- 
exposed position on the moor. It has several small islands, the 
largest of which is the breeding-place of a great number of gulls. 
This island is overgrown with stunted birch, alder, and willow, with 
an undergrowth of Calluna, etc. The branches of the trees are 
thickly invested with the lichen Alectoria jubata, which gives them 
a fantastic appearance. Another island has an undergrowth of 
Epilobium angustifolium and Capnoides claviculata ; a third has an 
abundance of Cnicus heterophyllus ; yet none of these plants appear 
to be abundant anywhere else near the loch. Ranunculus hederaceus 
occurs sparingly on the shore. A considerable number of other plants 
grow in and around this loch, but merely those of common occurrence. 
Loch Killin is situated at an elevation of over 1000 feet above 
sea-level, in a narrow and deep glen overshadowed by mountains. 
Its shores are rocky, excepting at the south end, and its water is 
peaty. A lofty and precipitous escarpment enters the loch on its 
western side. The aquatic flora is that which is quite common to 
other peaty lochs. Mention must, however, be made of the large 
quantities of Glyceria fluitans and Sparganium natans that occur in 
the water, particularly at the south end. An interesting feature of 
this loch is the remarkable amount of detrital matter brought into it 
by the river Killin. The bottom of the glen south of the loch forms 
a flat strath, about two miles long, consisting of the alluvial sand and 
gravel brought down by the river. Towards the loch many acres of 
this strath are covered with Juncus effusus, having grass etc. between 
the tussocks. The south shore of the loch consists of this alluvium, 
and it forms a beach of gravel and sand of considerable extent ; it is, 
in fact, simply an extension of the strath upon which vegetation has 
not yet grown. Standing at the margin of the loch and looking up 
the strath, we see extending out over the gravel, from the main body 
of the vegetation farther up, patches and isolated plants of Nardus 
stricta, Deschampsia flexuosa, Eestuca ovina, Molinia caerulea, Scirpus 
csespitosus, etc. In the rear of these plants, isolated tussocks of 
Juncus effusus occur as the vanguard from the large association 
farther up the strath ; such sward as exists between these tussocks is 
mostly composed of dwarf and densely matted Equisetum arvense. 
