114 
of our forest-trees called in all its energies during the period 
when it was engaged in the perfecting of its fruit. 
A mile or two farther on, we came to a level tract, which a 
few years ago had suffered from the ravages of fire. lt is 
now covered with a rich sward of Gwinea-grass (Panicum 
jumentorum); for it is a remarkable circumstance, that fire, 
while it destroys all other vegetable substances, spares the 
seed of this plant, so that it springs up on the first rains, and 
clothes the whole land with a rich mantle of verdure. Fire 
is, indeed, the agent usually employed by the inhabitants in 
clearing their grass-pieces, destroying every other plant, 
with the exception of this salamander-like exotic. Here and 
there, among the grass, the Ebony (Brya Ebenus) might be 
seen rising, covered profusely with its flame-coloured blos- 
soms, Among the more common plants were the Indigofera 
Anil and I. tinctoria ; the different Broom-weeds, such as the 
Waltheria and Melochia pyramidata; as also Sida althzi- | 
folia, Croton pennicillatum, &c. Thousands of the West Indian 
Ortolan ( Motacilla Trochilus) were observed among the tall 
grass, feeding on its seed. ER 
Passing over this tract, we entered again upon a piece of - 
woodland. We here also found the outskirts covered with 
the twining syngenesious plants, and the Convolvuli, formerly 
noticed. The Croton Cascarilla, a medicinal plant, is here 
frequent, as also the Snowberry, (Chiococcus racemosa,) and 
the Calea jamaicensis, A singular myrtle-leaved plant, pro- 
bably a species of Loranthus, was very common, bearing a 
this season of the year its snowy, compound, 2-seeded berries — 
The Cockspur (Pisonia aculeata) was just coming into flower, 
hanging down its long trailing branches, interlaced with 
those of the Achyranthes altissima, and the Rivina octandra. 
The Cassia viminea, supporting itself on the neighbouring 
shrubs, had shed its last flowers, and the pods were forming: - : l 
Here also the Mountain Ebony (Bauhinia porrecta) displayed 
its showy variegated blossoms. Together with it grew the 31 
Acacia leucocephala, and the Cestrum vespertinum, with iS | 
lurid flowers. In this place, a number of our West Indiaà | 
Timber-trees were to be observed ; such as the Wild Te amarinds 
