424 BELGIAN BOTANY. [February, 



in every point those of the left, explored the day before. Being 

 a good way behind^ we quickened our steps to rejoin the others 

 who were greatly ahead of us, and whose whereabouts were made 

 known to us at intervals by the sounds of the trumpet. We 

 carried in triumph our large tufts of Fumaria densiflora to 

 distribute to those who had passed without observing it. On 

 reaching them we went across a dry meadow, where grew the 

 elegant and rare Anacamptis pyramidalis and the Phelipeea^ 

 ccerulea. Further on, near a little hamlet belonging to the com- 

 mune of Nieuport, we observed in the moist meadows the following 

 species: — OrobancheGalii, (O.mmor parasite upon the Er odium 

 cicutarium,) Orchis Conopsea, Neottia ovata, Anagallis tenella, 

 Juncus mar'itimus. Growing along the edges of the road was 

 Marrubimn vulgare, in company with several other plants already 

 cited. Leaving these meadows, we went towards the dunes. 



These thousands of sandy hills and immense plains of glit- 

 tering sand, where squalls of wind scarcely allowed us to ad- 

 vance, presented an imposing spectacle. Such a scene cannot be 

 painted either by the pen or brush ; it must be seen, to be ap- 

 preciated in all its grandeur and wild appea/ance. Now and then 

 the rolling sea would show itself between two projecting dunes, 

 and add new features to the picture of this desert. 



Descending once more into the grassy valleys, we saw again 

 Anagallis tenella, Erythraa linari<3efolia, and Juncus maritimus. 

 In the same valley we also found Honkeneja peploides. Euphor- 

 bia Par alias, and Scirjnis pauciflorus. 



Having tried in vain, by mounting the highest points, to dis- 

 cover our other companions, we decided, after an hour's explora- 

 tion amid the howling of the tempest and the sand-drifts, to re- 

 gain the road where the mule had preceded us. Sea air singularly 

 sharpens the appetite, and we manifested a great desire to in- 

 spect the contents of the baskets. From an elevated spot we 

 at last discovered Master Long-ears grazing peaceably on the 

 grass of the plain, imitating in a more profitable manner the 

 example of his masters in their botanical occupations. We hailed 

 the conductor, who appeared as if he wanted to continue his 

 route, and instantly fell like an avalanche on the faithful ani- 

 mal, whose load was soon to become relics, i.e. empty bottles, 

 ham and mutton bones, etc. " The hungry stomach has no 

 ears,^' says a French proverb, so we quickly attacked the eatables 

 laid out on the turf. 



