wight's botanical letters, 199 



which is in scattered patches, is so dense that it is nearly im- 

 possible to penetrate it. These difficulties, however, I might 

 contrive to overcome in a great measure, if I had time and a 

 more favourable season of the year than I have at present, 

 which is so raw and wet as to have begun to spread fever 

 among my attendants. There is reason enough to induce 

 me to leave this, indepentlent of other considerations which 

 render a more prolonged residence impossible. My next 

 point of ascent is the Shevvarrys near Salem, but, had I time 

 for it, I long to go over some other hills, a large detached 

 mass about twenty or twenty-five miles distant from this. 

 From the Shewarrys I visit the Neelgherries for a short time, 

 and then must be guided by circumstances as to my future 

 progress. 



October 1. (Half-way down the hills.) — Your letter of 

 the 21st May reached me on the 27th, that of the 2d on the 

 30tb September, on my return from my excursion. Many 

 thanks for your clavis of the Convolvulaceee ; I shall set about 

 collecting them with good will, for hitherto I have paid 

 little or no attention to them, because I never could be sure 

 of either genus or species; now the case is altered. I have as 

 yet seen only two to examine; the one came out readily, 

 Ipomcea obscura ; the other Argyrein,cuneata, is not an Argy- 

 reia but a Rivea, having a 4-celled ovary : the mistake has 

 originated from the fruit examined being somewhat advanced, 

 and not in the state of the ovary, one half of which becomes 

 abortive at an early stage ; even when considerably advanced 

 this shows the abortive ovules, each in their more abortive 

 cell. Notwithstanding this error of Choisy, from whose 

 memoir principally you mention having drawn up the clavis, 

 I intend having it copied out and published in the Madras 

 Journal, as a communication from you, with drawings of 

 some species to illustrate the mode of using it, and I shall 

 accompany it with a request that those who find species in 

 the peninsula not referrible to any one in it, will have the 

 kindness to send me specimens to enable us to render that 

 portion of our wo)k more perfect. I shall keep a sharp look 



