OF GIBRALTAR. 71 



eighteen species are found ; the prevailing ones being 

 Pancratium maritimum, Ononis variegata, Picridium 

 tingitanum,Cachrys Pterochlaena (which covers nearly 

 one-fourth of both sides of the neutral-ground*), and 

 Silene nicaeensis. On the western side, the sand 

 being thinly covered with soil, and also being much 

 lower than on the eastern side, contains, in addition 

 to the plants just enumerated, several other kinds 

 equally interesting, such as Juncus acutus, Cyperus 

 badius, Ononis natrix, O. reclinata, and several sorts 

 of grasses, among which are found the beautiful 

 Festuca Alopecurus, and the singular Schoenus mu- 

 cronatus. 



Till very lately it has not been the good fortune of 

 any of the medical officers of the garrison to spend a 

 night on the neutral-ground, and it is to be hoped 

 that the opportunities which are now afforded will be 

 taken advantage of, and that a series of hygrometric 

 observations will be made, and all atmospherical phe- 

 nomena recorded. The temperature of the neutral- 

 ground, especially during night, is often as much as 

 five degrees less than in the town. A moonlight view 

 of the rock, from the old north-front guard (where by 

 turn, in common with the other medical officers of the 

 garrison, have I spent some delightful hours), is 

 indeed a sight well worth being shut out of the garri- 

 son to be enabled to see, and is a full compensation 



* This is that remarkable umbelliferous plant, the abun- 

 dance of which fails not to attract the attention of the 

 most indifferent. 



