Plants collected by Mr. Schomburgk in British Guiana. 427 



animal forms which now characterize it : the Myrmecophaga, the 

 Armadillos, the Pecari, the Coati, the Opossums, the Loncheres, the 

 Coendous, the Agontis, the Pacas, the Capibaras and others. But, 

 notwithstanding this analogy in the general type, it appears that the 

 species of the two periods are different ; at least M. Lund knows at 

 present but of one single exception to this rule {Loncheres elegans) . 

 If we combine, says M. Lund in concluding, this fact with the 

 geological facts above alluded to ; if we remember that all the coun- 

 try in question, elevated 2000 feet above the level of the sea, is co- 

 vered with a continuous and great stratum of loose soils which ex- 

 tend equally and without any interruption over plains, valleys, and 

 hills, and which is not missing even on the table lands and gentle 

 slopes of the highest mountains (5000 to 6000 feet) ; if we consider 

 that this stratum contains subjacent beds of gravel and stones which 

 fill all the fissures and caverns of the limestone rocks, and, that lastly, 

 it contains numerous remains of animals diff'ering from those which 

 at the present day inhabit this country ; if, I say, we combine these 

 facts, we can hardly refuse seeing proofs the most irrefragable of a 

 great irruption of waters, which, covering all this portion of the 

 globe, put an end to the beings then inhabiting it. 



XLVIIL — Enumeration of Plants collected by Mr. Schom- 

 burgk, British Guiana. By George Bentham, Esq., 

 F.L.S. 



[Continued from vol. ii. p. 451.*] 

 LEGUMINOS^. 

 Tribe LoTE^, DC. 

 If we commence the long series of LeguminoscB with the Papilio- 

 nacece, the tribe of Podalyriecs might be placed first, removing the 

 true Sophorece to the end, as forming the intermediate link between 

 PapilionacetB and Ccesalpinie^. The vast tribe of Lotece might come 

 next, divided into sub-tribes nearly in the order proposed by DeCan- 

 dolle, but with a few modifications of detail. 



Sub-tribe Geniste^, DC. 

 Monadelphous stamens, and simple or palmate leaves, are the 

 chief characteristics of this group, and admit of few if any excep- 

 tions. The anthers are also frequently dissimilar, five being oblong 

 and attached near the base, and five alternate ones shorter and at- 

 tached towards the centre. There do not appear ever to be either 

 stipellse to the leaves, a vaginal disk round the ovarium, nor trans- 



* The plant erroneously described in the last paper as a new Baccharis, 

 under the name oi Baccharis eriopfe7-a, is the Pterocaulon spicatum. DC. 

 Prod. V. p. 454. 



2 n2 



