embankments of thriving wood, yet open every where to the genial influence of the sun and air. Passing towards the garden, one cannot help remarking the luxuriance of the Portugal laurel, for which indeed, the grounds of Hopetoun are renowned. Hedgerows of this fine ornamental plant rise eighteen feet in height and upwards, shining with their huge scaly leaves of polished brilliancy, from amidst which tufts of the beautiful creamy blossoms start up, like feathers, in the utmost profusion. flower garden, which is always kept by a horticulturist of skill, is arranged in terraces and slopes; the collection of roses is peculiarly perfect; the ranges of pineries, vineries, and hot-houses, with some singular exotic plants, cultivated in the latter, are certainly worthy of a visit from the lover of horticulture.

The

The rise of the Hopetoun family, springing from the great Dutch commercial house of Hope, and the distinctions attained by its great lawyer, Sir Thomas Hope, at the bar; and its great soldier, the late John, Earl of Hopetoun, one of the heroes in the field of Waterloo, is, in all its phases, one of the proudest characteristics of British civilization.

We add a few notes of the more peculiar botanical stations of the district.

Horned Poppy (Glaucium luteum). Shore at North Queensferry.

Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia officinalis). All along the river side.

Sea-side Catchfly (Silene maritima). Inchcolm and North Queensferry.

Silene nutans. Hills at North Queensferry. Vicia lutea. Shore west of Queensferry. Oxytropis uralensis (very rare and interesting). Near Queensferry (Fife side).

Astragalus hypoglottis. Queensferry.

Astragalus glycyphyllus. Cliffs by the roadside,

westward of Queensferry.

Polygonum viviparum. Queensferry.

Orchis pyramidalis. On the Fifeshire side of the Forth. This has been reported to be the first

recorded station for this rare Orchid in Scotland;

but Lightfoot previously observed it in Colonsay.— Vide Lightfoot's Flora Scotica.

Habenaria albida. A single plant of this was once found on the hills above Queensferry. Cochlearia danica. Cramond Island.

Vicia angustifolia. Cramond Island.

Beta maritima. Near Cramond.

Crambe maritima.

Shore of the Forth between

Cramond and Queensferry.

Vicia angustifolia. Dalmeny.

Spiræa salicifolia.

Queensferry.

Woods at Newhall near

Primula elatior (Oxlip). Between Cramond

Bridge and Queensferry.

Plantago maritima. Shore near Queensferry.

Chenopodium maritimum. Dalmeny.

Triticum junceum.

Sandy shore, westward or

Cramond isle.

Thalictrum majus. Near North Queensferry.

Silene anglica. North Queensferry.

CHAPTER IV.

LIFE ON THE WATER- THE DOO CRAIG

AND ITS INHABITANTS.

THE real beauty of Queensferry scenery is, unquestionably, most perceptible from the water; but Pennant has erred, and other tourists after him, in setting down much more than is, at any one "The prospect

time, within the range of vision. on each side," he says, "is very beautiful; a rich country, frequently diversified with towns, villages, castles, and gentlemen's seats, such as Rosythe Castle, Dunfermline town, Lord Moray's, Lord Hopetoun's, Captain Dundas'. There is, besides, a vast view up and down the Forth, from its extremity, not remote from Stirling, to its mouth near May Isle, in all, about sixty miles. To particularize the objects of this rich view - from the middle of the passage are seen the coasts of Lothian and Fife, the Isles of Garvie and Inchcolm, the

town of Dunfermline, South and North Queensferries, and Borrowstounness smoking at a distance, from its numerous salt pans and fire engines. On the south side are Hopetoun House, Dundas Castle, and many other gentlemen's seats. On the north side Rosythe, Donibristle, and at a distance the castle and town of Burntisland, with the roads of Leith often filled with ships, and a magnificent distant view of the Castle of Edinburgh on the south." Yet this assemblage of objects, the May excepted, are all forthcoming in detail, with important accessions, which the skilful tourist has failed to group in; and we desire the lovers of marine views and aquatic scenery to engage the pilot boat, or some other craft equally "taught and yare," in order to realize, at a really cheaper rate than it can be had elsewhere, the breezy enjoyment of "Life on the Water." The Frith is frequented almost daily by one keen aquatic sportsman; and whilst, along with sundry members of the junior bar, resorting to the Queensferry, he takes his place in the stern sheets his ultimate destination the Doo Craig-his piece on cock, ready to deal destruction on the marrots, teal, guillemots, solan geese, gulls, seals, or grampi, if they come in his way (for "all is fowl that comes to the