Ixxviii PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
members of the Mountain Club connected with our Society. The 
following is the report of the leader :— 
“The party, which comprised a considerable number of ladies 
and gentlemen, journeyed by rail to Crieff. They then drove up 
through the picturesque Glen Turret as far as the loch, and then set 
off to ascend the mountain. The first part of the way, before the 
actual climb began, v T as through the numerous ancient moraines 
which nearly fill up this part of the Glen, and which tell of a time 
when the climate of Scotland was very different from what it is now. 
The ascent of the Ben, though pretty stiff in parts, was not to be 
called difficult; and fatigue was forgotten in the pleasure of finding 
on the way several interesting plants, notably the beautiful Linnceci 
borealis , Lin., so rare in Perthshire, and, indeed, in Britain. Shortly 
after two o’clock the summit was reached, an altitude of somewhat over 
3000 feet. Here a meeting of the Mountain Club was held. The 
Cairnmaster very shortly sketched the origin of the Club and the 
purposes for which it was instituted. The founder of it was the late 
Sir Thomas Moncreiffe, who also presented to the Club the hand¬ 
some Quaich which is indispensable when new members are admitted. 
This is the first occasion on which ladies have been present at a 
meeting. The Cairnmaster then proceeded to initiate as new mem¬ 
bers six ladies and four gentlemen, the ceremonies prescribed for 
such an occasion being all duly performed. After a short rest to 
admire the splendid prospect from the top, the party proceeded 
dov r mvard, exploring on the way the numerous rocky ledges where 
plants might be looked for. Besides most of the commoner alpines, 
a large number of the rarer and more interesting ones were obtained. 
Amongst these were Saussurea alpina , D.C., Veronica fruticans , 
Jacq., Cornus suecica , Lin., Carex vagina fa , Tausch., Woodsia hyper¬ 
borean R. Br. The beautiful Potentilla rubens , Vill., was particularly 
abundant and fine. A number of interesting mountain insects were 
also obtained. The weather was delightful—cool, breezy and bright; 
and after the toil of the day was over the drive back to Crieff was 
exceedingly pleasant. At Crieff the party had tea in the Royal 
Hotel, and then proceeded homewards by train, all agreeing that this 
was, perhaps, the pleasantest excursion for several years.” 
5. July 21, to the Banks of the Garry, from Killiecrankie to 
Blair-Atholl. Mr. Barclay, who was leader for the day, reports on 
this excursion as follows :— 
“Alighting at Killiecrankie Station, the party first explored the 
rocky gorges of the Alt Girnaig. This was by no means easy, as the 
stream was swollen by recent rains, and the paths were broken down 
in many places, rendering the footing rather precarious. Festuca 
sylvatica , Vill., a rather rare plant in Perthshire, was found in plenty. 
The party then proceeded along the left bank of the Garry to Blair- 
Atholl. Plants worthy of note were Origanum vulgare, Lin., and 
abundance of Rubus sanatilis , Lin., with profusion of ripe fruit. 
Fungi were fairly plentiful, and a good number of interesting speci¬ 
mens were gathered. The weather was fine, and the excursion was a 
very pleasant one.” 
