120 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
is so bad, and the equinoctial gales so powerful, that.even the 
steamers have not been*able to make the voyage regularly to 
Oporto. It may therefore easily be supposed, that a light 
sailing vessel would not venture among the Archipelago; 
—— by rocks, where these storms rage with the great- 
est violence. "Therefore, I remain here yet a fortnight or 
eighteen dayslonger, and happily the moist equinoctial wea 
has induced a great number of bulbs to shoot forth in the 
valley of Estremadura, which will furnish my collection with 
manyinteresting rarities. Of Colchicum alpinum, Ornithogalum 
Lusitanicum, Leucojwn autumnale, &c., I have, within the 
last few days, gathered most beautiful specimens ; as also of 
that elegant Fern, Davallia Canariensis. In particular, my 
store is enriched with a greater number of cryptogamic p 
than I could possibly Have anticipated; amongst them 
the Staurophora pulchella, Willd., (Lunilaria vulgaris, 
Micheli, Marchantia cruciata, L.) of which I have gathered 
numerous fertile specimens in the Alpine valleys of the Serr 
de Cintra, and the many heavy rains bring daily several kinds 
of Hepatice to a state of perfection. The same cause 
called forth a renewal of spring in the woods and Alpin! 
pastures; and the golden stars of the Ranunculus bullatus 
clothe the lately barren and parched Kneiden hill with 
brilliant carpet. The heaths and laurel-bushes are in fu 
flower, and many plants that had been long withered, revi 
and blossom afresh.” And on the 3d November, he writes 
** I have up to this time collected from 7000 to 7500 speci- 
mens, which in the next week will amount to 8000, since att 
important excursion will be undertaken to Serra da Arrabida, 
to wbich I receive military escort, without which the provinces 
along the sea-shore cannot be safely visited. In the en- 
virons of Lisbon allis green. The olive-trees are loade 
with ripe fruit, the laurel and the ivy are in full bloom, 2! 
the beautiful strawberry-tree is at the same time covered wit 
flower and fruit. The thermometer is generally from 13°— 
17° R.; but the torrents are now frequent and violent, ; 
last from four to ai e yet then again the heavens. st 
