ON THE VEGETATION OF BRAZIL. ‘59 
and compress the tree so much, that it perishes in the too close embrace. 
Those climbers, again, which merely ascend the trunk, supporting 
themselves by their numerous small roots, often become detached after 
reaching the boughs, and where many of them exist, the stem presents 
the aspect of a large mast supported by its stays. ‘These rope-like 
twiners and creeping plants, passing from tree to tree, descending from 
the branches to the ground, and ascending again to other boughs, 
intermingle themselves in a thousand ways, and render a passage 
through such parts of the forest both difficult and annoying. 
“ Having reached by mid-day the level on which the water of the 
aqueduct is brought from its source, we continued our walk along it 
for upwards of two miles. Our progress, however, was slow, from the 
number of new objects continually claiming our attention. In damp 
shady spots by the side of the aqueduct we found the common water- 
cress (Nasturtium ofticinale) of Europe, which is one of the few plants 
that is truly cosmopolite ; and on the rocks grew some little European 
mosses, which, being old acquaintances, recalled pleasing thoughts of 
home. Numerous ferns, and many strange-leaved Begonias grew along 
the side of the little stream. While collecting specimens of a moss, I 
had a providential escape from a poisonous snake; I caught it in my 
hand along with a handful of the moss, which was soon dropped when 
I perceived what accompanied it. Venomous snakes are not uncommon 
in the province of Rio de Janeiro; but accidents do not so often result 
from them as might be supposed.” 
“The Corcovado mountain offers a rich field to the botanist. I 
frequently visited the lower portions, but only once ascended to the 
summit. The ascent is from the north-west side, and although rather 
steep in some places, may be ridden on horseback all the way up. 
Some of the trees on the lower parts of it are very large. The thick 
underwood consists of Palms, Melastomacee, Myrtacee, Tree-ferns, 
Crotons, &c.; and beneath these are many delicate herbaceous ferns, 
Dorstenias, Heliconias, and, in the more open places, a few large 
grasses. ‘Towards the summit the trees are of much smaller growth, 
and shrubs belonging to the genus Croton are abundant, as well as a 
small kind of bamboo. The summit itself is a large mass of very 
coarse-grained granite. In the clefts of the rocks grow a few small 
kinds of Orchideous plants, and a beautiful tuberous-rooted scarlet- 
flowered Gesnera.” 
About fifteen miles from the city rises the Gavea or Topsail 
Mountain. i 
** Among the loose rocks at the foot of the mountain we made a fine 
collection of beautiful land shells, and on the rocks by the sea shore 
we found the beautiful Gloxinia speciosa, which is now so common in 
the hot-houses of England, growing in the greatest profusion, and 
covered with flowers. Along with it grows a kind of wild parsley, 
and, twining among the bushes, a new kind of Indian cress (‘Tropzeolum 
orthoceras, Gardn.). On the face of the mountain, at an elevation of 
several hundred feet, we observed some patches of one of those beautiful 
large-flowered Orchideous plants which are so common in Brazil. Its 
large rose-coloured flowers were very conspicuous, but we could not 
