1909-10.] 
Flora of Scottish Lakes. 
103 
lowering of the surface of the loch, were under the necessity of providing 
its base with masonry capable of withstanding the w r aves in time of storm, 
and the superior construction of the lower portion is still well exhibited, 
although the foundations are partially destroyed. 
On the south-west of Loch Doon there is a large and somewhat 
circular, elevated, treeless moor 3 or 4 miles in diameter, surrounded 
by mountains on every side and presenting the aspect of some huge amphi- 
theatre in utter ruin. Rugged rock and deep bog vie with one another for 
possession of the space. Here a gurgling burn divides the combatants ; 
there a broad lane * dashes over its rocky bed with foaming impetuosity ; 
whilst ever and anon a slow, deep, sinuous river winds its labyrinthine 
course through some level stretch of moss, scarcely more stable than the 
river itself. Numerous lochs, characterised by stretches of coarse white 
sand intercalated here and there on their otherwise rocky or peaty shores, 
are sprinkled over this lonely and wild moor. In some of these lochs, 
flourish in great abundance two interesting aquatic plants that I have met 
with nowhere else in Scotland, namely, a truly aquatic form of Ranunculus 
Flammula (var. natans) and Potamogeton polygonifolius, var. pseudo-fluitans, 
already mentioned on pp. 72 and 84 respectively. 
I shall first describe the general features of these lochs, and then give a 
list of the plants common to most of them. I was unable to obtain the use 
of a boat at any of the lochs hereabout, and am therefore not able to give 
any account of the bottom flora beyond the marginal zone, excepting what 
could be gleaned from an examination of the remains of such plants found 
upon the shores. 
Loch Recar is one of the largest of the lochs on the above-mentioned 
moor. It is about a mile across in either direction, and has a very irregular 
outline. The water is somewhat peaty, but, considering the moorland 
situation, remarkably clear and bright. The shores are rocky or peaty, but, 
on the east side particularly, large bays are filled with coarse white sand, 
which results from the disintegration of the syenitic granite in which this 
loch as well as neighbouring ones is set. This sand is found chiefly on the 
eastern shores, in consequence of the erosive power of the waves caused by 
the prevailing westerly winds. The somewhat scanty vegetation is much 
more abundant on the western than on the eastern shores, saving that 
aquatic plants are much more plentiful in the long and narrow neck of 
water leading to the effluent on the east side than elsewhere in the loch. 
Loch Macaterick is a mile south of the last-mentioned loch, and is 
about the same size ; the outline also is very irregular. This loch is almost 
* A stream is often termed a lane in this part of Scotland. 
