i82 NOTES OF A NATURALIST. 



now appear to be. Familiar examples are the genera 

 HieraciuiH and Rosa in Europe ; Aster and Solidago 

 in North America ; while in South America, Escallonia, 

 Malvastrum, and several groups of Myrtacece seem to 

 exhibit the same phenomenon. 



Another genus having numerous species in South 

 America, but, so far as I know, not displaying the 

 same close connection of forms linking the several 

 species, is Adesmia, a leguminous genus allied to the 

 common sainfoin. I found several species near the 

 baths, the most attractive being a little spiny yellow- 

 flowered bush, with much the habit of some Mediter- 

 ranean Genistcs, but with pods formed of several joints, 

 each covered with long, purple, glistening hairs. 



A bright day was followed by a clear cold night, 

 the thermometer falling to 40'' Fahr. in the court, and 

 slight hoar-frost was visible in the lower part of the 

 valley near the baths. I started early for a ramble 

 over the higher hills rising to the south and south- 

 west of the establishment. After following a track 

 some way, I struck up the steep stony slopes, meeting 

 at every step the dried skeletons of many interesting 

 plants characteristic of this region of America, but 

 here and there rewarded by finding some species in 

 fruit, or even with remains of flower. After gaining 

 the ridge, I found that the true summit lay a con- 

 siderable way back, quite out of sight of the baths. 

 To this, which is called El Morro de Caiiqjienes* I 

 directed my steps, wishing to enjoy a unique oppor- 

 tunity for a wide view of the Chilian Andes. 



* The Baths of Cauquenes are said to be 2523 feet above the sea ; 

 the Morro., by aneroid observation, is about 2000 feet higher. 



