608 



[Dactylis ccespitosa). It was almost the only plant in flower in the 

 islands. 



" So much for the natural productions of the Falklands. A more 

 villanous climate cannot be imagined, at least while we were there it 

 blew and snowed without intermission, preventing anything like ex- 

 tensive excursions and occasioning the most exquisite discomfort. It 

 was never moderate enough to allow me to have a day's dredging, 

 even in our own large, fine cutter. Delighted were we to leave the 

 Archipelago, j^ar excellence, of storms, and did leave it on the 30th 

 ult., and here we have been tossing ever since. Oh ! this charming 

 Cape Horn amply deserves its character ; gale after gale, storm after 

 storm, hurricane after hurricane. I wish you could have seen three 

 gales we have had when we were scudding under bare poles. I 

 never saw so magnificent a sight; but that ill makes up for other dis- 

 comforts : the wind is always dead against, and we are half think- 

 ing that we must be distantly related to the Flying Dutchman. We 

 leak like a spout, besides, I have six inches water in my cabin every 

 morning. It is doubtless very pleasant, in awakening during the 

 night, to be lulled again to sleep by the gentle music of running wa- 

 ter in your cabin ; but I am so unromantic as to prefer the contrary. 

 However, one must put up with these small discomforts at sea ; and 

 in a week or two, the trade- wind and blue sky of the Pacific, will, 

 we trust, welcome us, and waft us moderately, at least to Valparaiso. 

 Our destination is somewhat uncertain, but as the season is so far 

 advanced that the coasts of Mexico will be extremely unhealthy, it is 

 probable we will see the Columbia River about June or July, and af- 

 terwards return to the southward, and endeavour in that way to cheat 

 the ' Yellow Jack ' of Guayaquill." 



"Thomas Edmondston." 



Distinguishing Character of Circcea alpina. 



Circea alpina. — " It is almost amusing to peruse the characters by 

 which botanists ever since the days of Linnaeus have been endeavour- 

 ing to distinguish Circa^a lutetiana and alpina, which, whether indi- 

 vidually or collectively, would, in any doubtful case, enable any one, 

 except by chance, to tell the one from the other, even though the 

 species are certainly distinct. The genus, until extended by Indian 

 additions, consisted of those two species only, the fruit of the former 

 of which is two-celled, with a single, erect seed in each cell, hence 



