152 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. [Sess. 
and its var. hispidula, C. fragilis and Callitriche hamulata, both with and 
without floating rosettes, are all frequent, the varieties of the two species of 
Chara being more abundant than the types. Juncus fluitans, Littorella 
lacustris, Ranunculus peltatus, R. Baudotii, R. Drouetii, and Hydrocotyle 
vulgaris occur sparingly, whilst Callitriche stagnalis is plentiful. 
As may be imagined from the nature of the embankment, a deal of 
leakage takes place around these lochs, and a number of little pools have 
been formed by the accumulation of the water in hollow places, besides 
which, others have been intentionally made as nurseries for the young 
trout. Some of these pools are interesting because of the number of plant 
forms that grow in and around them. Two in particular exhibit a large 
number of variations in species of Juncus, chiefly of J. acutiflorus, J. supinus, 
and J. bufonius. Others have curious forms of Ranunculus Flammula, and 
at one the var. natans of Persoon is very abundant (p. 72). In other places 
Marchantia polymorpha, X., covers considerable tracts of wet ground, produc - 
ing its reproductive bodies, both asexual and sexual, in extraordinary abund- 
ance. On the sides of a drain 2 feet deep that had been cut in the sand 
only two years previously, Blasia pusilla, X., was growing luxuriantly, as well 
as numerous commoner Bryophytes. The Blasia also occurs abundantly at 
some other places which are kept moist by the water escaping from the 
lochs ; and on the sandy-peaty shores of some of the pools exposed in summer 
by the falling of the water level, Botrydium granulatum, Grev., and Riccia 
crystallina, X., were very abundant, R. glauca, X., and Aneura pinguis, Dum., 
were fairly common, whilst Riccia Lescuriana, Aust., and Aneura latifrons, 
Lindb., were scarce. 
The advent of the lochs on the previously dry, sandy mooi* has wrought 
considerable changes in the flora of the immediate district even in this 
short time, and doubtless others will follow. Where the plants came from 
is an interesting problem, to which a satisfactory answer is not easily found, 
but in all probability seeds and spores have been brought to the lochs by 
water-birds migrating eastwards from the lochs of central and western Fife, 
where most of the plants, excepting the rare Hepaticae, abound. 
Kilconquhar Loch is situated about a mile north of Elie, at an elevation 
of 49 feet above sea level. It is a very shallow circular loch about \ mile 
across, and is so completely surrounded with marsh and reed swamp that 
the water can only be approached at a few places, consequently there is no 
definite shore. The village of Kilconquhar is situated on the north side of 
the loch (fig. 92), and the gardens of the adjacent cottages run down to its 
margin. The ornamental grounds of Elie House, which are wooded or 
park-like, adjoin and beautify the south side (figs. 89 and 91). Upon the 
