172 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE, 
Having discussed the “ finds ” made on the ascent, the 
route of descent was arranged, and the meeting of the 
Club brought to an end. Iu descending the hill the party 
made a detour into Glen Turret to examine several lines 
of precipices which are a conspicuous feature of this side 
of the hill. After an interlude of snow-balling on a patch 
of snow that was crossed, the rocks were reached and ex¬ 
plored. Many beautiful alpine plants were found in 
flower here. Amongst these were the green cushions 
studded with red flowers of the Mossy Campion (Silene 
acaulis); the pendant dark green sprays of the Opposite¬ 
leaved Saxifrage ( Saxifraga oppositifolia) being the large 
purple blossoms; the sea-green tufts, crowned with the 
yellow flowers of the Eose-root (Sedum rhodiola); the 
yellow Potentilla maculata; the brilliant blue of the Eock 
Speedwell (Veronica saxatilis), and many other gems. 
The rarest plants that came under observation were 
Woodsia hyperborea, of which two or three plants were 
seen; and Linncea borealis, with its levely sweet-scented 
rose-tinted blossoms. This locality for the Linncea , which 
usually grows in fir-woods, was discovered by Mr Martin, 
of Aberuthven, some years ago. It occurs on the banks 
of a burn at an altitude of about 2000 feet above sea-level. 
Ee-crossing the ridge, a descent was made upon Auchna- 
free, and, after an al fresco repast, a start was made for 
Perth, which was reached about midnight. 
July 26th. 
6. To Birnam. 
This excursion took place, but was omitted to be re¬ 
ported at the time. 
August 9th. 
7, To Banks of Tay, near Meikleour, 
This excursion was one of the most successful of the 
season, though the attendance of members might have been 
larger. 
After meeting at Cargill Station, the party proceeded to 
examine the banks of the Isla between the Bridge and the 
Tay, finding a curious form of the rare Carex aquatilis, 
Scirpm sylvalicus. Nasturtium palustre, &c. At the 
Bridge some of the members went to see the celebrated 
beech hedge, said to be 90 feet high (60 feet of which is 
well clipped) and three-quarters of a mile long; while the 
rest of the party continued their investigation of the Isla 
down to its mouth. In the river they found the two spe¬ 
cies of British fresh-water sponges —Spongilla fluviatillis 
and S, lacustris. The former of these had not before been 
recorded as a native of Perthshire, though there was a 
suspicion that it occurs in the Tay at Barnhill. The 
colony of animals which composed this sponge form large 
masses of a yellowish green colour, which encrust stones, 
and it is abundant in the Isla at this point. The other 
sponge usually occurs in lakes, and is of a much darker 
green than the other, in addition to which its shape is 
different, being like a small upright more or less branched 
twig. Moreover, it is usually attached to dead wood, but 
sometimes to growing plants. 
Near the mouth of the Isla a large bed of dockens 
(Bumex) afforded material for study. To the unbotanical 
eye one dock probably looks much like another, and all of 
them uninteresting; but the botanist finds in them much 
to study and admire. The parts in which the chief points of 
distinction are to be found are in the lower whorl of the 
envelopes of the fruit, which differ very much in shape in 
the various kinds, and are often of very elegant forms, 
besides being often brightly coloured, passing from various 
shades of green to white, rosy, and bright red. But the 
docks have an additional interest, in that they not un- 
frequently cross with each other, and produce new and 
puzzling forms. Amongst those at the mouth of the Isla 
were several which require to be studied before names can 
be assigned to them. One seems to be the variety 
trigranulatus of Rumex crispus, a variety which has 
been recorded from very few places in Britain. 
By the kindness of the Dowager Marchioness of Lans- 
downe, the party had leave to explore the beautiful 
grounds of Meikleour. The route taken was along the 
bank of the Tay, which was found to be in several places 
very productive. In marshy places the ground was literally 
carpeted with the blue flowers of the true forget-me-not, 
mixed with the yellow cups of the money-wort (Lysimachia 
nummularia). The latter plant is considered to be a 
doubtful native of Scotland, and is, at anyrate, not often 
to be found, except when it is an undoubted escape from 
cultivation. At Meikleour, however, and for several miles 
up the river, it grows in considerable abundance in marshy 
