6 : ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE BOTANY OF 
remarkable for its saline efflorescence, and the wells for the brackishness of their water. 
The rocky soil, always exposed to the solar rays, absorbs much heat, and a high 
temperature with considerable dryness is produced in the hot weather; but from the 
openness of the country, and exposure to winds which pass over extensive lakes in the 
vicinity, a greater degree-of cold is produced in winter than we should otherwise expect. 
We do not therefore find in the Flora round Delhi such plants as Guttifere, Anonace@, 
and Strychnee, which requiring moisture with heat, flourish in the southern provinces 
of India. But the climate in general being favourable, and the minimum of cold not 
long continued, we find many of the plants which are common in warmer parts of India, 
but which are not found at Saharunpore. Among these may be enumerated Adantus 
excelsa, Prosopis spicigera, and Salvadora persica, with Capparis aphylla, and species of 
Hibiscus, Grewia, and Flacourtia, as shrubs, together with such herbaceous plants as 
Anisochilus carnosus, Acrua Javanica, Elytraria crenata, Fagonia Mysoriensis, Lepidagathis 
cristata, Acanthus Madraspatensis, Echinops echinatus, Cenchrus echinoides, also species 
of Cocculus, Leucas, Aristolochia, Polygala, and Ionidium. Cochlearia flava spreads along 
the banks of the Jumna, nearly up to Delhi. A species of Farsetia and Linaria ramo- 
sissima are found; the latter only enumerated in the Flora of more southern parts 
of India; while a Salsola, which is common, indicates the saline nature of the soil. 
Balanites Agyptiaca, Alhagi maurorum, Salvadora persica, and species of Ethulia, 
Heliotropium, &c. are remarkable as occurring all over the Northern provinces of Hin- 
dostan, and being equally common in Egypt, while the presence of a species of Picnomon 
and one of Kentrophyllum is interesting, as forming a point of resemblance to the Flora 
of the South of Europe. 
Most of the plants which have been enumerated, I also found on the hills near 
Lohargaon and Mirzapore; several were recognized by Dr. Wight as occurring in the 
most southern parts of the peninsula, and nearly all have been described by Dr. Rox- 
burgh as occurring in the neighbourhood of Samulcottah. 
To show the effects of protection and culture, Xanthochymus dulcis may be adduced 
as a remarkable instance ; this tree, which is found only in the southern parts of India, 
and which would not live in the more exposed climate of Saharunpore, exists as a large 
tree in the garden of the King of Delhi; but here, surrounded by the numerous buildings 
within the lofty palace wall, in the midst of almost a forest of trees, with perpetual 
irrigation from a branch of the canal which flows through the garden ; an artificial climate 
is produced which enables a plant even so sensitive of cold as one of the Guttifere to 
flourish in the open air at Delhi, where it is highly prized, and reported to have milk 
thrown over its roots, as well as its fruit protected from plunder by a guard of soldiers. 
_ The animal kingdom does not present many peculiarities to distinguish this district 
from that of India in general. The Lion is however almost peculiar, -being found 
beyond Hansi on the edge of the desert. The Neel-gae is common in the plains, and 
the Porcupine and a species of Hedgehog which I have called Erinaceus Indicus, and 
the short-tailed Manis, are common about Delhi. 
In 
