1014 Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. [sess. 
plants of this loch are of the usual type. Between Loch Mhor 
and Loch Ness are a number of small lochs very similar to one 
another in the character of their flora. They contain quantities 
of Castalia speciosa, which, with wooded shores, and general 
luxuriance of vegetation, give them a decidedly lowland appearance. 
The plants, however, notwithstanding the general luxuriance, are 
those usual to peaty lakes. A photograph of the south-west side 
of Loch an Ordain (fig. 83) shows Carex rostrata and C. aquatilis 
about the margins, Equisetum limosum and Phragmites com- 
munis standing out of the water, and growing among them, are 
quantities of Potamogeton natans and Castalia speciosa. The 
shores are clothed with alder and birch. A general view from the 
south-west (fig. 84) shows a large area of Carex rostrata that has 
almost completely overgrown this shallow portion of the loch; a 
pool in the foreground is, however, too deep for them and this is 
overgrown on the left side with Castalia speciosa. Such circular 
pools are known under the unpleasant appellation of “murder- 
holes.” Pig. 85 illustrates Phragmites communis advancing upon 
the loch in crescent formation, the water in front of them being 
covered with Potamogeton natans; this is from Loch Bran. So 
also is fig. 86, showing Carex rostrata growing into the water, 
behind them C. aquatilis on the drier ground, gradually merging 
thence into moor, the space between them being covered with 
Potamogeton natans. All the common plants of the area were 
found at one or another of these lochs, and need not be enumerated 
again. 
Loch Mhor. — In and about this large loch I found absolutely 
not a trace of any living plant. It is about 600 feet above sea 
level, and the water extremely peaty. Originally there were two 
lochs on this site, Loch Parraline and Loch Garth. In order to 
obtain a constant and efficient supply of water for their turbines, 
the British Aluminium Company at Foyers, who own the lochs, 
undertook operations by which the two lochs were joined, and the 
level of the lower raised some 20 feet by a dam ; so that one large 
loch was formed thereby, about 5 miles in length, and named 
Loch Mhor. The Company’s turbines utilise an enormous amount 
of water, consequently, in accordance with the rainfall, the surface- 
level of the loch is continually changing, the difference between 
