34 KOYAL WATER-LILY. 



sions. I shall endeavour to express not only my own 

 feelings, but those of MM. Bonpland and Hsenke, 

 for we were all alike struck with profound emotion on 

 beholding the two species of Victoria which form the 

 subject of this note. For eight months I had been 

 investigating, in all directions, the province of Cor- 

 rientes, when, early in 1827, descending the river 

 Parana, in a frail pirogue, I arrived at a part of this 

 majestic stream, where, though more than 900 miles 

 distant from its junction with the Rio Plata, its 

 breadth yet nearly attained a league. The surround- 

 ing scenery was in keeping with this splendid river; 

 all was on a grand and imposing scale, and being 

 myself, only accompanied by two Guaran'i Indians, 

 I silently contemplated the wild and lovely view 

 around me; and I must confess that, amid all this 

 watery waste, I longed for some vegetation on which 

 my eye might rest, and longed in vain ! Ere long, 

 reaching a place called the Arroyo de San Jose, I 

 observed that the marshes on either side the river 

 were bordered with a green and floating surface; and 

 the Guaranis told me that they called the plant in 

 question "Yrupe," literally water-platter, from y, 

 water, and rape, a dish. Its general aspect reminded 

 me of our Nenuphar, belonging to the family Nym- 

 pJiceacece. Nearly a mile of water was overspread 

 with huge round-margined leaves, among which 

 shone, sprinkled here and there, the magnificent 

 flowers, white and pink, scenting the air with their 



