106 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Bess. 
spermum moniliforme, B. vagum, Ulothrix aequalis, Zygogonium ericetorum. 
Numerous Bryophytes were also frequently abundant on the peaty shores, 
or clothing the rocks at the margins. 
Proceeding from the head of Loch Doon towards Loch Enoch by way 
of the glen drained by the Gala Lane, and lying between the two mountain 
ranges, of which Merrick, on the west, and Corserine, on the east, are the 
highest points, one passes over the site from which Loch Doon obtains its 
chief supply of Molinia cserulea. Here is a stupendous bog 5 miles long 
by a mile or so wide, almost everywhere treacherous to walk upon, and in 
some places quite impassable.* A characteristic feature of this bog is the 
luxuriant growth of Molinia cserulea, which is often about 18 inches high. 
The same grass also dominates the sides of the hills, but there it is much 
shorter. 
After receiving numerous tributary streams, the Gala Lane for the last 
three miles of its course is of some considerable size, and only in a few places 
can it be crossed dry-shod by jumping with alacrity from rock to rock 
across its bed. Sometimes it passes swiftly down a rocky incline ; generally, 
however, it meanders its tortuous course, slow, deep, and wide. In such 
places flourishes a vegetation abundant in quantity but poor in variety ; or 
its bottom may be covered with dead grass like that of Loch Doon, in which 
case no living vegetation occurs. Carex rostrata forms a marginal zone of 
varying width, and in the water Potamogeton natans, P. polygonifolius, 
Castalia speciosa, and Juncus fluitans are the ruling, and in fact almost the 
only, species. The last particularly is so abundant that the slow, deep river 
appears in places full of it, yet in Loch Doon it is scarce. 
Looking from the monotonous and treacherous Molinia-covered glen, the 
scenery is indeed unique. On the east, Carlin’s Cairn, Meikle Craigtarson, 
Millfire, and Meikle Millyea thrust their grassy flanks, with here and there 
a steep gray scree of Lower Silurian rock, into the strath below. On the 
west, Mullwharchar, Dungeon Hill, Craignaw, and Craiglee plunge their rocky 
and precipitous shoulders of syenitic granite boldly into the insidious bog of 
the glen. This untamed grandeur is further enhanced by numberless erratic 
boulders perched on the western sky-line in fantastic variety (fig. 4). On 
the east, the great ice-sheet has completed its work of rounding off the 
mountain tops and giving their flanks a symmetrical slope. On the west, 
glaciation has but half completed its task because of the harder igneous 
rock, and here one sees to perfection the battle-ground whence one of the 
mightiest of nature’s gladiators has been driven before completing his 
* After passing the watershed at the Dry Loch of the Dungeon, the glen continues for 
another 5 miles, down to Loch Dee. 
