270 BOTANICAL EXCURSIONS MADE BY 
Visp noticed a large straight avenue of poplars, a mile or two in 
length. Stopped at the Hétel du Soleil to breakfast. 
After breakfast the party proceeded up the river Visp to 
Stalden ; this took about one and a half hours or more. ‘Here 
the valleys of the Saas and St. Niklaus separate. The latter, 
which goes to the right, led us to Zermatt. We picked many 
interesting lower country plants on the way :— 
Biscutella levigata | Salvia viscosa 
Erigeron canadensis Herminium Monorchis 
Monotropa Hypopitys Colchicum autumnale 
Digitalis grandiflora Stipa pennata 
Hyssopus officinalis 
Leaving Stalden we walked to St. Niklaus, which usually takes 
two and a half hours more walking. In this part of the journey 
the Weisshorn is a conspicuous snowy mountain. Fir woods 
here and there and snowy patches seen. We rested at St. 
Niklaus for some time to take lunch. We reached Zermatt 
between 6 and 7 p.m., passing along an interesting valley. 
We were thoroughly wet, and as our baggage had not arrived 
we had no alternative but to go to bed fora time. Nine of the 
party remained at the Hétel du Mont Cervin, while the remaining 
12 (3 being left at Visp) were accommodated at the Hétel du 
Mont Rose, Seiler Fréres. 
Sunday, 22nd August 1858. 
When we awoke in the morning we found the whole ground 
covered with newly-fallen snow to the depth of 3 or 4 inches, It 
was a remarkable sight at this time of the year. The sun broke 
out in the course of the morning and the snow began to melt 
rapidly, so that the ground became very disagreeable. The curé 
is a good naturalist and has made a collection of the plants of 
the mountains. The collection can be purchased... At the 
hotel there were two volumes of botanical specimens laid out for 
the inspection of travellers. 
Monday, 23rd August 1858. 
Day fine, sun shining and snow melting ; still much snow 
covering the ground ; notwithstanding, we resolved to start for 
