110 BOTANY OF THE 
colouring. A very spiny Gooseberry, probably Rides Cynosbati, but — 
neither in flower nor fruit, grew under the shade of the trees, as did the — 
Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus), whilst the Poison Ivy or Oak — 
(Rhus Toxicodendron), the Virginian Creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia), — 
and Waxwork (Celastrus scandens), climbed up the trees; this last — 
now displaying its beautiful fruit, the valves of which spread widely — 
open and disclose the seeds in their pretty scarlet or orange arils, that — 
have the appearance of large berries from their coherence in a globose - 
form, which is that of the capsules. I did not notice the American - 
Yew or Ground Hemlock (Taxus Canadensis), said to be common at : 
or near the Falls. ; 
On the 14th of Sept. I left the Falls (Manchester) for Lewiston on — 
the Niagara River, from whence there is a steamer to Hamilton, C.W., | 
at the bottom of Burlington Bay, at the south-western extremity of | 
Lake Ontario. The scenery on both sides of the river is charming, 
and the snail's pace at which we were drawn along on a tram-road to 
Lewiston, afforded full opportunity for enjoying the scenery. The 
country was well cultivated, but the crops were now off. the ground. | 
Indian corn seemed to prevail over other grain here. The land was 
much infested with Verbascum Thapsus, a common and troublesome - 
agricultural weed in the northern parts of America, though supposed : 
to have been introduced from Europe. Amongst the commoner trees | 
of the country I noticed Quercus montana and what appeared to be - 
Q. discolor in considerable abundance. The weather in the morning 
was warm and beautiful, but later in the day became much overcast, | 
with incessant lightning on Lake Ontario till we reached Hamilton 
late at night, where much rain seemed to have fallen. 
Hamilton is a rising place, containing many good and some hand- 
some houses, the streets, as in all modern American towns, extremely ! 
wide, but the lower part of the town along the lake is subject to ague - 
at particular seasons. The country around is charming, especially the 
rich valley formed by two nearly parallel, thickly-wooded ridges, called - 
the Flamborough and Dundas mountains. Having relations in this ; 
part of Canada, I remained in Hamilton and its neighbourhood till the 
22nd, chiefly near Ancaster, a straggling village of truly Canadian 
aspect some miles to the southwest, but in a beautiful district. 
season was too far advanced for the summer plants, and many even of 
the autumnal species were out of bloom. Amongst the few herbaceous 
species in flower or fruit were Leersia oryzoides (extremely common 
