_BOTANICAL INFORMATION, 115 
species of Phaca, which may be P. glabra, or perhaps only 
P. australis; an Oxytropis, perhaps a mere variety of O. Ura- 
lansis, but looking very different; a number of good grasses; 
Galium cometorrhizon, (Lapeyrouse), or G.Villarsii, (Regnier), 
&c. Ialsocollected with much pleasure a commoner Pyrenean 
plant, Jberis carnosa, (Lapeyr.), or I. spathulata, (DC.); 
because it proved to me that the Zberis from the neighbour- 
hood of Eaux Bonnes, which I mentioned to you in my last 
letter, is assuredly distinct. 
* From these alpine summits I descended by smugglers' 
paths, the tracks often obliterated, through the wildest gorges, 
often appearing impracticable to human foot, but along which 
we led our mountain ponies, to the valley of Balivierna. 
Here I had intended to sleep; but having already filled my 
box and stock of paper, and being destitute of means for 
carrying safely any more plants, I was obliged to hurry down 
the precipices, snatching here and there at single specimens of 
the ever-varying vegetation we trod upon; for here, as in many 
of the southern declivities, the alpine and southern vegetation 
grows almost intermingled. The valley of Balivierna is also 
so wild and precipitous, that it is less fed down than most of 
the mountains around, and during the whole day the nature 
of the rock was perpetually changing from one to another of 
the great primary divisions, granite, schist, and limestone. 
This valley presents an admirable field where a botanist 
might advantageously encamp for a few days, and investigate 
the country around; and l am even persuaded, from the 
aspect of the Maladetta on this side, that, with proper pre- 
cautions, the Pic Nithon, the loftiest point of the whole Pyre- 
nean range, might be ascended without much difficulty, 
though all attempts to reach its summit from the north, have 
hitherto proved abortive. * : 
* My guide, Jean Argaro, a person thoroughly acquainted 
with these Spanish mountains, and I, had been on our ponies, 
or on our legs, ever since four in the morning, and it — 
was near six in the afternoon, before we issued from the — 
gorge of Balivierna. The paths over which the poor animals. a 
