353 



there, and misses a much greater proportion of the Flora than in Swit- 

 zerland for instance, where in four months he could collect much 

 more than in the same time in Sicily. The island is not beautiful on 

 the whole. Palermo has a fine site, and the road from Messina along 

 the coast is one of the finest that I know. But the want of forests 

 gives a bare, African look to the scenery. The interior of the coun- 

 try has a very desolate look. For fifteen or twenty miles one does not 

 see a cottage or dwelling of any kind. Plains covered with Arundo 

 ampelodesmos and Chamaerops humilis, with a dark, deep soil, fit to 

 bear anything, here and there broken up, but apparently neglected for 

 want of inhabitants. Those that are there live in large cottage cities, 

 where, except the monasteries and church, everything bespeaks 

 poverty. There is not one good house to 10,000 inhabitants, and yet 

 there is no squalid misery. Far from it, the people are better clothed 

 perhaps, than in any other south European country. It seems as if 

 the population were wearing out, unable to keep up its numbers, as 

 is the case in Greece, where Sclavonians have, even in the Morea, re- 

 placed the ancient race. * * * * 



Upon ^tna, where I hoped to have found something peculiar, as 

 upon the largest European volcano might be expected, I got very 

 little indeed. The Berberis is one of those * Permessi,' really nothing 

 but vulgaris. The Astragalus Siculus was the only plant that I had 

 not seen elsewhere, and upon other (not volcanic) strata. 



I have made some delightful excursions in the mountains nearest 

 Naples. Everything reminded me of the lUyrian provinces of Austria, 

 although few of the species are identical with their Austrian conge- 

 ners. At between 4000 and 5000 feet there are many beautiful sub- 

 alpine plants, more than 1 should have expected in this latitude, but 

 it is still rather too early. I mean to visit the Abruzzi in July. These 

 are Alps of 800—9000 feet. 



In this country the monasteries replace the excellent inns of the 

 Swiss, Tyrolese and Austrian Alps." 



The next communication was an account of various trips by Dr. 

 Balfour and his pupils. The first being to Ardenenny and Loch Eck, 

 on the 28th June. The party examined the rocks and woods in Glen 

 Finnart, and proceeded towards the shores of Loch Eck, skirting 

 them as far as Ben More and thence walking to Kilmun. The chief 

 plants noticed were Hymenophyllum Wilsoni, Osmunda regalis, Jun- 

 germannia minutissima, Sphaerophorum compressum in fine fruit, 

 Rubus saxatilis, Saxifraga aizoides and stellaris, Gymnadenia al- 

 bida, Carex stricta, fulva and remota, Polygonum Bistorta, Sedum 

 Vol. II. 2 x 



