72 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



occasional loose blocks of stone. The struggles ot 

 the few laden animals that we saw in passing, as they 

 toiled along this weary track under a scorching sun, 

 suggested a thought of the wonderful changes which 

 modern inventions have already effected, and are 

 destined to effect in the future, throughout every part 

 of the world. The track before our eyes was, until 

 the other day, the sole line of direct communication 

 between Lima and the interior of Peru. The passage 

 of men and animals had in the course of centuries 

 reduced the original stony surface to a river of fine 

 sand, and by no better mode of transport had the 

 treasures of Cerro de Pasco, and the other rich silver 

 deposits of the same region, been carried to the coast 

 to sap the manhood and energy of the Spanish settlers 

 in Peru, and help to achieve the same result in the 

 mother country. 



The American railway car, which is not without its 

 drawbacks for ordinary travellers, is admirably suited 

 to a naturalist in a new country. No time is lost in 

 opening and shutting doors. Standing ready on the 

 platform, one jumps off at every stoppage of the train, 

 and jumps up again without delay or hindrance. I 

 was able to appreciate these advantages during this 

 day, and to add considerably to my collections by 

 turning every moment to account. At first the vege- 

 tation was, of course, extremely scanty ; but I was 

 interested by finding here some representatives of 

 genera that extend to the hotter and drier parts of 

 the Mediterranean region, such as Doerhavia and 

 L ippia. 



Not far beyond the station of Santa Clara, near to 



