XY1 
INTRODUCTION. 
named the “ Lock- burn,” as it issues directly from Loch 
Brandy. This interesting mountain lake is surrounded with 
wild and picturesque rocks, the accessible parts of which, as 
well as the streams descending from it, are rich in alpine 
vegetation. At its south-west corner there is a smaller lake 
where the Isoetes lacustris and Lobelia Dortmanna are found 
in profusion ; and among the rocks where the Loch-burn 
leaves its parent-lake, the Hypnum Silesianum and other 
cryptogam ic rarities are to be met with. 
Rather more than a mile to the south-east of Loch Brandy, 
there is another mountain-lake called Loch Wharral. The 
rocks surrounding it are less wild, but on the left-hand side 
a stream dashes down over steep ledges where the rare 
Alopecurus alpinus was first detected in this county. 
If a visit to the solitary Loch Lee is contemplated from 
Clova, the best way is to ascend the Greenhill on the right- 
hand side of Loch Brandy, and proceed along the crests or 
mountain-r igy ins, with a shepherd-guide if possible, who may 
save some extra walking, to the head of Inchmagrundle, 
where a fine view of the lake is obtained, with the ruins of 
Invermark Castle in the distance. Here also are the Craigs 
of Maskeldie, and a wild gorge through which the Eanach 
comes down to the lake. 
“ Rocks rise on rocks, ancl fountains gusli between,” — 
and probably a more careful exploration of them than can be 
made in a passing visit would well repay the trouble. It is 
in such a wild, yet to the naturalist inviting place as this, 
that one is tempted to exclaim with the Sherardian professor 
Dillenius, “ Oh that some rich botanist, that has no relations 
or children, would build a house there!” The long walk 
leaves much too little time for investigation, and in returning, 
“ When breezy evening broods the listening vale,” 
it is far from pleasant to be caught in the dense mist that so 
frequently invests these mountain-summits after sunset; nor 
will twilight be found a very safe guide through the scattered 
