1904-5.] 
Flora of Scottish Lakes. 
967 
A Comparative Study of the dominant Phanerogamic 
and Higher Cryptogamic Flora of Aquatic Habit, in 
Three Lake Areas of Scotland. By George West. 
(With Fifty-five Plates.) 
SCOTTISH LAKE SUBYEY. 
Under the direction of Sir John Murray, K.C.B., F.R.S., D.Sc., 
LL.D., etc., and Laurence Pullar, F.R.S.E. 
(Read June 19, 1905.) 
Introduction. 
In this contribution an account is given of the dominant plants 
of aquatic and semi-aquatic habit existing in and about the lakes 
of the following districts of Scotland : — 
1. The Loch Hess area. 
2. The lakes in the Island of Lismore, Argyll. 
3. Lakes situated between Nairn and the Culbin Sand Hills. 
1. The Loch Ness Area. — The most casual observer, in 
passing through the Caledonian Canal, must have noticed the 
yellow-brown appearance of the water, which is due to the water 
supply from the mountains having to percolate enormous quantities 
of peat before reaching the lower level. It is the presence of this 
peat extract in the water that is the dominating factor governing 
the aquatic flora of this area ; it makes the water untenable to a 
large number of plants, and restricts also the zone of plant-life, by 
rendering the water so dark that plants are unable to carry on 
their functions beyond a very limited depth owdng to want of 
light. When looking over the side of a boat in Lochs Oich and 
Ness, one is not able to see the bottom beyond a depth of seven or 
eight feet. The paucity of vegetation in peaty water is evident 
to the most casual observer. The prevailing and frequent strong 
winds are westerly ; consequently there is upon the eastern shore 
of a lake a very considerable and sustained wave action. Acting 
upon a rocky or stony shore, this erosive power entirely prevents 
