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wild of undisturbed nature. We met occasionally in the 

 pastures with the Quail; and \\\q Snipe, {Scolopax Gallinago,). 

 during this season of the year, is to be found in every ditch. 

 On a tree, a Whistling -Duck, {Anas arhorea,) was observed 

 perching : it is seldom seen during this part of the year in 

 this latitude, as it is supposed to migrate, to spend the 

 winter months in Carolina. As to the plants of the neigh- 

 bourhood, we noticed, in flower, the Hyptis pectinata, H. capi- 

 tata, and H. radiata. Below Mount Olive House, I found 

 the Epidendrum anceps on almost every tree ; and on every 

 bank Habenaria hirta. At Williamsfield, the Epidendrum 

 nocturnum was abundant, and along with it, though of less 

 frequent occurrence, the Bernhardia complanata. There 

 was one solitary specimen of Epidendrum verrucosum. This 

 gave me an opportunity of correcting a very glaring inac- 

 curacy of Swartz, who describes the inflorescence as a scape, 

 instead of being a terminal raceme. I should almost have 

 considered his description as referring to some other plant, 

 did not the specimens I speak of agree with it in every other 

 respect. Among other plants of this district, which were now 

 in bloom, I may enumerate Eupatorium diffusum, Varronia 

 arhorescens. Pedis punctata, P. linifolia, Tradescantia procum- 

 bens, and Cymbidium utriculatum. Two of the species of 

 Arundo, noticed by Browne, were common in the river-course. 

 This district has been regarded as unhealthy ; the negroes 

 being more sickly, and more subject to ulcers than in any 

 other part of the Island. This, some may be inclined to 

 attribute, and indeed have attributed, to the influence of 

 Malaria. There can be no necessity to ascribe effects to a 

 supposititious agent, for which we can otherwise easily account. 

 The true cause is most probably the morning fogs, the 

 chilling effects of which are opposed to the intense heat of 

 the noontide sun, which, in this district, owing to its being 

 surrounded by hills, is only slightly relieved by the sea-breeze. 

 We may also take into account that provisions are far from 

 being abundant, and that the negroes are unquestionably 

 the least impi'oved, both in their morals and general habits, 

 of any in the Island — retaining many of their African notions 



