24 
those, the discovery of which in the centre of Africa 
has just been announced by the adventurous Living¬ 
stone. I will now ask you to accompany me 
(metaphorically) as I set off at sunrise one fine morn¬ 
ing in Augnst, hi quest of this loch of eternal ice. 
As we drove slowly up the steep ascent into Glen, 
Affaric, the horizontal rays of the sun were just 
lightmg up the silvery stems of the birches, while the 
rabbits disturbed at their breakfasts scuttled into the 
wet brackens, and a roe-deer or two bounding up the 
hill side paused to gaze inquisitively at those who 
broke the wonted stillness of the morning. 
Having reached the summit of the ascent we were 
able to make more rapid progress.. Here no trace of 
man is to be seen, save the road winding through the 
glen. On each side high up the hills stretches the 
forest of birch and pine, while beside the road runs the 
river, here mirroring the hills and woods in its glassy 
bosom, there forcing its way over a rugged rock, or 
into a deep abyss. 
I mentioned just now the forests of birch and pine. 
It may be perhaps new to some members of this 
Society to learn, that just as a good farmer has a 
rotation of crops, so nature in like manner has her 
rotation of crops of trees, and no doubt, though not 
noted, of other plants also. In this district of Strath- 
glass, the pines and birches seem to succeed each 
other with great regularit}^—one dying out and hav¬ 
ing its place taken by the other, which in turn gives 
way again to the first. In some places I was assured 
that as many as five generations of pines could be 
traced—soon I fancy to be joined by a sixth, as at 
present the dynasty of the birches seem to be on the 
ascendant. 
Here and there in the woods a few aspens—which 
there get the name of mountain or quaking ash—rear 
their lofty heads, but they are but as a drop in the 
ocean of birches. About six miles up the glen we 
came to Loch Beny Via-n, fringed by dark pines. In 
the shallows at the sides were great beds of Lobelia 
Dortmanna, whose pale blue flowers nodded over the 
still waters. A drive of some five miles more brought 
us to Loch Affaric, and the road (for carriages at 
