IN THE WESTERN AZORES. 127 
respect, except not finding the expected facilities for bota- 
nizing, I had the fullest reason to be satisfied and pleased 
with the conduct of Captain Vidal and the officers generally. 
Thirdly, I fell into the error of drawing the straps of my 
presses too tight, which no doubt rendered the process of 
desiccation much slower, and considerably injured some of 
the more succulent specimens. Accustomed to dry plants at 
home, in an airy room, with usually many quires of paper 
between each layer of specimens, I had found a heavy pres- 
Sure advantageous. In a damp climate and ship, where 
Space compelled me to keep a limited supply of paper in use, 
a heavy pressure was certainly detrimental; though “in the 
darkness visible” of a sleeping cabin, it was long before I 
observed the injuries arising from this practice. I can now 
better understand why specimens come so imperfectly pressed 
from warm and damp climates, where tight pressure would 
induce an incipient putrefaction and destroy the distinctness 
of parts in the succulent individuals. I have, unfortunately, ex- 
perienced this effect in my semi-succulent species of Euphor- 
bia, Campanula, and Convolvulus, which appear to be un- 
described, 
To return from a digression which may probably give 
useful hints to some other collector. My former communi- 
cation had carried me to the edge of the Caldeira, in Fayal. 
This was described as a circular hollow in the highest part 
9f the island, and has doubtless been a volcanic crater in 
long bygone ages: now it is a natural botanic garden, where 
the true Flora of the Azores, above the cultivated region, 
reigns undisturbed by plough or spade. The diameter of the 
basin appears to be about one mile, and its perpendicular 
depth is more than a quarter of a mile, with very steep sides 
or walls, down which several small streams rush rapidly, 
forming beautiful cascades in places where they fall over 
Precipitous ledges of rock. Ultimately, these streams are ab- 
sorbed in a lake, which occupies about a third of the base of the 
valley; and from which, as before stated, there is no visible 
outlet for the waters which are constantly pouring into it. 
