50 ROYAL WATER-LILY. 



which he dried. Lastly, I have correct intelligence 

 of its occurring in the Rio Trombetas, near Obidos, 

 and in lakes between the rivers Tapajoz and Madeira, 

 so that there can be no doubt of its being plentifully 

 distributed throughout the whole of this region, both 

 north and south of the Amazon." 



We have thus endeavoured, by descriptive remarks 

 and careful selections from the observations of bota- 

 nical travellers, to convey to the reader's mind as cor- 

 rect an image as it is possible to place before him of 

 the magnificent aspect which this Regal flower, 



" Aspiring to the rank of Queen," 



presents in her native waters. We shall now proceed 

 to detail the Victoria's history as a garden flower. 

 Beautiful as was the western nymph, when she dwelt 

 alone, unknown, and uncared for on the bosom of 

 her native bays, it was only after science had taken 

 her by the hand, and declared her loveliness to the 

 world, that her merits were fully and frankly ac- 

 knowledged. 



Immediately that the Royal Lily became known 

 in this country, an eager desire was evinced in bo- 

 tanical and horticultural circles to obtain its intro- 

 duction, in a living state, to our British gardens. 

 This desire was greatly increased in consequence of 

 the necessarily very imperfect dried specimens which 

 had been transmitted to this country, and which, al- 

 though "botanically examinable," as the results of 

 Lindley's examination show them to have been, were 



