BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 113 ` 
several passes (‘ ports’ as they are here called) in the elevated 
rocky ridge separating the two kingdoms of France and Spain, 
together with many other equally interesting botanical sta- 
tions, may severally be visited in a single day’s excursion from 
the town of Luchon, and if the traveller is willing to sleep 
out for one or two nights, either the Spanish mountains 
around the Maladetta, or this latter gigantic. mass of rock 
and glacier itself, or the lower mountains below the town of 
Benasque, may be searched with comparative facility. For 
my own part, I feel little doubt but that every such expedi- 
tion undertaken somewhat earlier in the season, and prose- 
cuted by a careful botanist, would, for some time continue to 
make additions to the Pyrenzean Flora, although the researches - 
of Endress, Dufour and Grenier and others, have already 
much enriched it since the period when, accompanied by our 
mutual friend, Dr Arnott, I explored these mountains in the 
year 1825. Amongst those who have been herborizing with 
the greatest zeal, is, I am told, a Dr Bobani, an Italian Refu- 
gee, possessing much generalinformation and whois very ardent 
in the pursuit both of natural science and literature. He has 
been at much pains to examine into the various controversies 
that have been raised on the vegetation of the Pyrénées, and 
has collected many valuable data, which would prove highly 
useful to persons interested in the Flora of Europe. This 
gentleman's attention is now chiefly directed to preparing for 
publication a Flora of Virgil. 
* M. Paul Boileau, well known to all naturalists vko visit 
Bagnères de Luchon, has made several interesting excursions ; 
though his time is too much occupied during the watering 
season to allow him to pursue his researches at the best and 
Most productive period of the year. He gathered this spring 
on the rocks of the valley of the Essera, below Benasque, a 
plant which he considers as the Lychnis Pyrenaica ; but on 
comparing it with my dried specimens from the valleys of 
Aspe and Ossau, I cannot but pronounce it to be a different — 
species. It may prove only the variety 8. indicated by Lapey- 
rouse, in his Supplement, page 62, for it possesses all t Á"- e 
Journ. of Bot. Vol. II. No. 11. April, 1840. .* — 
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