40 THE ATLANTIC. [chap. i. 



seems to be no limit to their multiplication. A quick-growing 

 wood is, of course, the great desideratum, as it is chiefly want- 

 ed for the building of fires, and of the scarcely less ephemeral 

 orange-cases. For this latter purpose, Gryptomeria Japonica, 

 several species of Eucalyptus^ Populus nigra and angulata, 

 and Acacia melanoxylon are already supplanting Pinus mari- 

 timuSy Per sea Lidlca, and Laiirus Canariensis. 



A few miles farther on, the road left the coast, and began to 

 ascend so rapidly that, until we gained the top of the ridge, we 

 had little help from our carriages and mulos. The uplands, 

 in general character and in the style of their vegetation, are not 

 very unlike some of the richer parts of the Highlands of Scot- 

 land. The plants are somewhat on a larger scale. The heath- 

 er is the Erica Azorica, frequently rising to the height of 

 twelve to fifteen feet, with a regular woody stem much used 

 for fire-wood. The bog-myrtle is replaced by the graceful My- 

 ricafaya, and the juniper is represented by a luxuriant spread- 

 ing prostrate form, Juniperus oxycedrus. Grasses are numer- 

 ous in species, and form a rich green permanent pasture. 

 Ferns are very abundant, and give quite a character to the veg- 

 etation of the ravines among the '' Montas." The steep cliff 

 down to the bed of a torrent is sometimes one continuous sheet 

 of the drooping fronds of Woodwardia radicans, often six or 

 eight feet in length. 



The Woodwardm is certainly the handsomest and most char- 

 acteristic of these investing ferns. In the glades in San Mi- 

 guel it is usually associated with the scarcely less handsome 

 Pteris arguta, and with many varieties of Aspidiwn dilatatum 

 and cemidum. Here and there we come upon a fine plant of 

 Dicksonia cidcita, the nearest approach on the island to a tree- 

 fern. The buds and young fronds of this fern are thickly cov- 

 ered with a soft, silky down, which is greatly used in the islands 

 for stufiing beds and pillows. 



On reaching the crest of the hill, the view is certainly very 



