PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
31 
to be very poisonous; Myrrhis odorata; Sedum telephium; 
Crepis paludosa; Mimulus luteus, an American plant, now 
perfectly naturalized on the banks of the Tay; Symphytum 
tuberosum (Tuberous Comfrey); Typlia latifolia (Mace- 
reed); Elodia canadensis (Water Thyme or American 
Waterweed), an American water plant, which very 
mysteriously made its appearance in Britain about forty 
years ago, and spread rapidly over all the country, imped¬ 
ing navigation in some of the English rivers. It is now 
reported to be as mysteriously disappearing. Scirpus lacus- 
tris (Bull-rush); Scirpus Taberncemontani; Glyceria aqua- 
tica, &c. Among cryptogamic plants, the beautiful little 
xEcidium rubellum, which is parasitic on dock and sorrel 
leaves, was observed. It has apparently not been recorded 
from Pecthshire before. The parts of the leaf attacked by 
it become of a brilliant crimson, on which the whitish cups 
are seated. 
On reaching Elcbo Castle a halt was made to examine 
this interesting old building,—Mr Pitcaithly, the tenant, 
very kindly explaining to the party some of the peculiari¬ 
ties of the place. After a short rest, the exploration of 
the river bank was continued as far as Perth, where, after 
an inspection of Lord-Provost Hewat’s pretty garden at 
Craigie Park, the excursion was brought to a satisfactory 
conclusion. 
July 7th. 
2. To Craig ma Griamch, near Lochearnhcad. 
Having reached Killin Station at 10 A.M., the party 
proceeded to investigate the marshy shores of the little 
lochan close to the station. Here a variety of more or less 
interesting plants were seen, including the true cranberry 
(Oxycoccos palustrisj, with its bright red flowers, and a 
number of sedges belonging to the genus Carex, of which 
the more noteworthy were C, limosa and C. pauciflora. 
The ascent of the hill called Craig ma Grianich (or, in the 
Ordnance Map, Creag mac Ranaich), was then commenced 
till an altitude of about 2000 feet was attained, when some 
of the commoner alpine plants began to appear. Amongst 
those noticed were several kinds of saxifrages, such as the 
Starry Saxifrage (Saxifraga stellaris), with pure white 
flowers, dotted with red; the Opposite-leaved Saxifrage (S. 
oppositifolia), with rich purple flowers; and S. aizoides, 
with yellow orange-spotted-flowers. In marshy places the 
beautiful little Alpine meadow-rue ( Thalictrum alpinum), 
with dark green glossy leaves, in the style of a maiden¬ 
hair fern, was common ; while from the rocks numerous 
bushes of the Bose-root ( Sedum rhodiola) displayed their 
pale glaucous green leaves and yellow flowers. 
As it is usually on rocks that the rarer alpine plants 
occur, the attention of the party was chiefly directed to 
an investigation of that part of the hill, but, on examina¬ 
tion, the rocks, though highly picturesque and piled range 
above range in a castellated manner, were found to be, on 
the whole, too dry to afford a suitable habitat for the rarer 
plants. In addition to those already mentioned the follow¬ 
ing were noticed:—The Alpine Cudweed (Gnaphalium 
supinum ), Alpine Lady’s Mantle (Alchemitta alpina), 
Juncus triglumis, Holly Fern (Polystichum lonchitis), 
Green Spleenwort ( Asplenium viride). Viviparous Knot¬ 
grass ( Polygonum viviparum). Mountain Sorrel ( Oxyria 
reniformis), Small Tway-blade (Listera cordata), &c. In 
the peat mosses the pretty red fruit (unripe) of the Cloud¬ 
berry or Averon ( Rubus chamcemorus) was not unfrequent; 
and in marshy spots could be seen the white spikes of the 
Mountain Bog Asphodel (Tofieldia palustris). Amongst 
the lower cryptogamic plants a few interesting species 
were found, such as the pretty moss Tetraplodon mnioides 
growing in thick clusters on bones (the place on which it 
usually grows), and accompanied by the rare fungus, 
Pesiza axillaris. As parasites on the crow-berry two 
other rather rare fungi were also observed, viz., TJredo 
empetri, which forms small yellow spots on the underside 
of the leaves; and Rhytisma empetri, which blackens, and 
eventually kills, the stems. 
For the zoologists the day was rather unproductive. 
The only wild mammal noticed was the mountain or blue 
hare, which was common. Birds (except grouse) were, as 
usual on the hills, scarce, though the wild note of the Bing 
Ouzel or Mountain Blackbird (Turdus torquatus) were 
occasionally heard, and a few specimens of the bird itself 
seen. There was far too much wind to allow insects to 
move abroad, though a few species were noticed, including 
the hill-frequenting moths, Coremia munitata and Larentia 
salicata. The great sub-kingdom Mollusca was repre¬ 
sented by a single specimen of the black slug, Avion ater. 
From the higher parts of the hill magnificent views were 
obtained in every direction. On one side part of Loch 
Tay, flanked by the rugged ridge which includes Craig 
Caillich, Cam Creag, Meal nan Tarmachan, Ben Ghlas, 
and the great Ben Lawers, and bounded by the dark- 
wooded Drummond Hill, beyond which towered Farragon 
and the hills of Athole and Aberdeenshire; in front, Loch 
Earn, overshadowed by Ben Voirlich, and backed by the 
