SHORT ON WESTERN BOTANY. 121 



berries a shower of acid on the traveller. Now, would burst 

 upon the view a smooth sheet of water, skirted with the blue 

 and purple hues of the Pontederia and Decodon, intermixed 

 with the scarlet berries of the Prinos, whilst its surface was 

 covered over with the large and floating leaves and splendid 

 flowers of the Cyamus ; and then, in endless vista, was 

 stretched before the eye a waving sea of gigantic grasses. 

 In such a field as this, none but a recreant to nature and 

 undeserving of her pleasures, could remain indifferent to the 

 charms spread in such lavish profusion around ; and, although 

 we were not idle, inattentive or unobservant of them, yet do 

 we now find cause for bitter regrets, that we did not then 

 more industriously avail ourselves of the opportunities thus 

 enjoyed, for studying, examining and collecting the produc- 

 tions of that rich and interesting: reinon. 



In our subsequent efforts in the cause of Western Botany, 

 it has been our good fortune to be associated, at different 

 times, with a few fellow-labourers, whose devotion and indus- 

 try have contributed greatly to our perseverance. Of these, 

 the late Mr Eaton must first be mentioned; whose amiability 

 of character, and zeal in the pursuit of natural science, 

 greatly endeared him to us, and gave an additional incentive 

 to our own. That zeal in him, alas, but too soon lighted 

 the fire which consumed him ! for of our departed friend it 

 may with much truth be said, that 



" Science 'self destroyed her favourite son." 

 Having in another place* attempted an eulogy of this excel- 

 lent young man, we will only here pause a moment to pay 

 the passing tribute of a sigh to one so rarely endowed — so 

 deservedly esteemed. 



About the time of the death of Mr Eaton, his loss to the 

 cause of science in the West was fortunately supplied by 

 two individuals, one of whom had been his fellow-student in 



* A Biographical Memoir of H. Halbert Eaton, A.M., late Assistant 

 Professor of Chemistry in the Medical Department of Transylvania Uni- 

 versity.— Transylvania Journal, Vol. v. 



Vol. III.— No. 19. R 



