158 A NEW VINE. 



there was deep water close to the shore. Wood and 

 water might easily be obtained in this bay, a cir- 

 cumstance that may give it value in the eyes of 

 future navigators, as it did in ours. 



Before ascending the hill we crossed a flat clothed 

 with rich grass, out of which we flushed several 

 Pheasant-cuckoos.* We found one of their nests 

 on the ground containing four eggs, in size and 

 colour they resembled the domestic pigeon. The 

 nimble manner in which these birds hop along the 

 branches of trees, with their loner tails whiskinof 

 behind, give them, at the first glance, more the ap- 

 pearance of monkeys than birds. We found here 

 the gouty-stem tree of large size, bearing fruit ; and 

 also a vine, which, from all the information I have 

 since been able to collect, appears to be quite a new 

 specimen ;t it bore a small but well-tasted black 

 berry, similar in shape and general appearance to 

 the grape sometimes seen climbing over the cot- 

 tage doors in England. Each fruit contained three 

 large seeds, in shape and size resembling the coffee 

 berry. It was growing in a light sandy soil, and 

 the temperature to which it was exposed varies from 

 76° to 110°. It is a matter of great regret that I 

 was not able to introduce this new species of vine 

 into England ; the seeds and specimens of it having 

 been unfortunately destroyed by mice and insects. 



* Ceutropus Phasianellus. 

 f From the description I gave of this vine to Sir W. Hooker 

 he thought it quite new. 



