PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
169 
public are allowed free access to the grounds twice a-week 
during summer), we need not attempt a description of its 
romantic scenery. But we may mention that it bas long 
been celebrated as a place rich in rare and interesting 
plants. The most noteworthy of these is the whorled- 
leaved Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum verticillatum), a 
plant which in Britain oceurs only in Perthshire and 
Northumberland, and which in Perthshire has its head¬ 
quarters at Craighall and its neighbourhood. 
Owing to the backwardness of the season vegetation was 
not quite so far advanced as was hoped, and consequently 
not so many “ finds ” were made as would otherwise have 
been the case. The above mentioned Solomon’s Seal was 
pointed out, but was only a few inches high. The next 
most interesting species was the curious Toothwort (Lath- 
rcea squamaria), a pale brownish-white plant, which is 
parasitic on the roots of trees, and which gets its name 
from the scales which clothe the underground stems. The 
plant has no leaves, and the flowers are the same colour as 
the stem. Craighall is probably the most northern place 
in Britain where it grows. These were the only really 
rare plants that were found, but a number of other inter¬ 
esting species were seen. 
Botany was not, however, the only study of the party. 
The zoologists and geologists also found objects of interest 
to them. To the former the best “ find ” was a beautiful 
little land-mollusk (Helix lamellata) hitherto found in very 
few spots in Perthshire, and not previously known to occur 
in this locality. The geologists used their hammers to 
some purpose, for though the rocks of Craighall are con¬ 
glomerate, yet various “ travelled boulders ” occur here 
and there. Conspicuous amongst these is the “Muckle 
Stane of Glen Balloch ” (celebrated in song by the worthy 
Secretary of the Society), to which some of the party paid 
a special visit. Apart from its interest as a “boulder," 
this stone exhibits some of these curious and puzzling 
sculptures known as “ cups.’’ It may be mentioned that 
the party took the opportunity of seeing the golden eagle 
lately shot at Dalnabreck in Strathardle, and which is 
being stuffed in Blairgowrie. 
May 22nd. 
2. To Kincardine Glen. 
Kincardine Glen is a narrow valley on the northern 
flanks of the Oehils, through which the Ruthven water 
flows, and the little bit of it which can be seen from the 
high viaduct which crosses it near its mouth is much 
admired by travellers on the Caledonian Railway between 
Perth and Stirling. The valley is excavated out of the 
Old Red Sandstone (which is here not red, however, but 
yellow and grey), but except in a few places the rock is 
not visible, though the sides of the glen are very steep. 
At several points the sandstone is interrupted by “ dykes" 
of trap rock, which are of much later origin than the 
sandstone, having come up in a molten state through 
fissures. These dykes make more or less conspicuous 
features on the sides of the glen, and break the monotony 
of the sandstone. Not that the scenery of the glen is 
monotonous. It is far from that. The river takes a 
winding course, and its banks here and there form little 
meadows dotted with stately spruce and silver firs. At 
other points the banks rise steeply on each side of the 
water; and throughout the glen the steep sides are clothed 
with various kinds of trees. At this season of the year 
the valley is very lovely. The tender and varied green of 
the oaks, birches, and other trees which are just bursting 
into leaf, are intensified by the more sombre colours of the 
firs. Here and there a bird-cherry or a gean stand forth 
arrayed in all the beauty of their snow-white blossoms, 
while beneath the trees the ground is carpeted with many 
a bright-coloured flower — purple orchids, pale yellow 
primroses, golden marsh marigolds and celandines, and 
silvery anemones and wood-sorrel; while less conspicuous 
but equally beautiful plants reveal their charms to the 
keen eyes of the botanists. But the beauties of the glen 
are not confined to still life. Burns dashing down in 
many a merry cataract to mingle their waters with the 
Ruthven;—birds of many a kind flying from tree to tree, 
or pouring forth their melody from the depths of the 
woods;—butterflies and bees flitting from flower to flower; 
and silver-sided trout gliding through the pools, each and 
all give additional charm to the scene. These can all be 
appreciated and enjoyed by every one, but to the natural¬ 
ist, whose privilege it is to see more than uninstructed 
eyes can see, the appreciation is deeper, the enjoyment 
greater. It is true that he can penetrate but a very little 
way behind the veil, but even that little adds vastly to 
the charms of a country ramble. 
The most notable “ find ” of the day is more remarkable 
for its rarity than for its size, being a very small moss 
that grows upon damp sandstone rocks. This moss has a 
special interest for Perthshire botanists, since it was first 
discovered—about the beginning of the century—in Dupplin 
Den (where it is yet to be found) by George Don, who 
was for some time gardener at Dupplin, and who discovered 
many of the rarest Scottish plants. It had not previously 
been found in (or at least reported from) Kincardine 
