2 ANNALS OF SCOTTISH NATURAL HISTORY 



a sister, with whom the latter years of his life were spent, 

 and who survives him, are full of interest and reveal the en- 

 thusiasm of his nature. He describes the scenery of a valley 

 near Valparaiso as resembling that of the Clyde valley about 

 twenty miles north from Moffat, but narrower, and intersected 

 by many cross valleys enriched with a profusion of wild- 

 flowers, such as yellow calceolarias and mimulus, " growing 

 like chickweed." The contrast between their richness and 

 the sterile mountain scenery struck him as " very wonderful." 

 As evidence of the restoration of his health, we may 

 refer to his ascent of La Campana de Quillota, a mountain 

 of 6400 feet in height The ascent was made by moon- 

 light, which " steeped the great silent hills in light, and 

 made one think how little of the grandeur and beauty of 

 nature we see." At a height of 4000 feet the party rested 

 for the night. When they reached the summit " the only 

 sign of day was the morning star in the east," while " in the 

 west the moon was shining on the sea." Gradually the light 

 became " brighter and brighter over the mountains," " rays 

 from the yet hidden sun " streaming into the sky, till at last 

 " an intense point of the colour of lightning rose to view." 

 When the full glory of the sunrise was upon them, the 

 shadow of the mountain was projected for twenty-six miles 

 over land and sea. There is frequent reference to the plants 

 which he gathered ; now a calceolaria " growing in a crack 

 of a rock a few feet from the highest point," and again an 

 " Umbellifer growing like great hassocks among the stones, 

 like a moss about nine inches high, or the golden fern 

 Adiantum sulphureum" The descent was made after sun- 

 rise, and at one point the party went into a copper mine, 

 " but I, liking better what grows on the outside of the earth, 

 took the opportunity to go among the plants." So character- 

 istic of the man ! 



After eight years residence in Valparaiso he went to 

 Santiago, and communicated to Dr. Philippi, Professor of 

 Botany in the University there, the collection of plants and 

 seeds which he had made during these years. It proved to 

 be one of great value, including several plants new to 

 science. Schizostcmma Kingi, Ph., and Tropaolum Kingi, Ph., 

 perpetuate his name. He was the first to find Stemmatum 



