THE COLDER TEMPERATE ZONE. 75 



Having had time to finish these reflections on oar voyage 

 to the Falkland Islands, we look out as we near them to 

 see of what the general features of the landscape consist. 

 Look where we may, we can see no trees ; not a single tree 

 is to be seen in these islands ; the nearest approach to them 

 are thickets of bushes from four to five feet high, which 

 consist of Brambles (Rubus), Heaths (Arbutus and Andro- 

 meda), and the Crowberry (Empetrum). If there were but 

 trees, the country would not be unlike some parts of Eng- 

 land, from the extensive meadows and moors which charac- 

 terize it ; the grasses which cover the meadows are the same 

 as ours, such as different kinds of Agrostis, Aim, and Fes- 

 tuca; and growing with them are Rushes, Reeds, and 

 Sedges, amongst which is the Club-rush (Scirpus). 



Though there are many South American plants to be met 

 with, we also recognize many familiar species. In damp 

 and moory places we meet with a plant very like our pretty 

 Moneywort, but with smaller blossoms, Lysimackia repens, 

 and two kinds of Marsh Marigold (Caltha), though these are 

 also smaller than ours ; there is the common little duckweed 

 too (Sagina procumbens] , and a variety of Composite flowers. 

 A most singular plant, called Balsam-bog (Bolax glebaria), 

 here attracts our particular attention ; it would convey no 



