BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 561 
it were thickly studded with the bright yellow flowers of a 
Buttercup (Ranunculus cordatus). On our return, we collected 
specimens of two or three Laurinee, and a large arboreous 
Olive allied to Olea glandulosa. 
On the following day, we started from the Avalanche bun- 
galow and went on to another at a place called Sispara, about 
fifteen miles distant. Shortly after leaving we had to ascend 
nearly 1000 feet above the level of the Avalanche valley, and 
from this elevation we commanded a fine view of the upper 
ranges of the Neelgherries, including Ootacamund, and the 
massive rounded summit of Dodabetta. The route thence lay 
through a truly beautiful, but uninhabited country ; the road 
winding now along the sides of high grassy hills, now over 
their bleak summits, and now through beautiful vallies by 
the sides of limpid rivulets, the margins of which are adorned 
with Rhododendrons, and numerous other flowering shrubs. 
In one of these vallies, somewhat resembling that of Neuera 
Ellia in Ceylon, but smaller, the Wild Strawberry (Fragaria 
elatior), and Alchemilla Zeylanica form patches of immense 
Size, It is curious that while the Neelgherries, and the 
mountain ranges of Cevlon have many European forms of 
plants in common, yet each presents a few which are 
peculiar to itself. Thus the Prunella vulgaris, Parnassia 
Wightiana, Lysimachia Leschenaultii, Rosa Leschenaultii, the 
four species of Viburnum, and the two of Lonicera of the 
Neelgherries, have not yet been discovered in Ceylon; 
while, on the other hand, the Agrimonia Eupatorium, Ranun- — 
culus hastatus, and Viola Walkeri of Ceylon, are unknown on 
the Neelgherries. They each possess a Dipsacus; but these 
are distinct, though nearly allied, species. 
Before we got half way to Sispara, we were enveloped 
in a dense mass of clouds, which came rolling along from the 
Malabar country, and were soon drenched to the skin by the 
rain which they gave out. The cold was excessive, and we 
Were glad to dismount and walk for the last two miles. We 
felt it most while passing along a high range which overlooks 
the low country. Here we saw convincing proofs, in the 
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