PROFESSOR JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR. 271 
alpine botanising. We started after breakfast, about 9, with an 
excellent guide, Joseph Zum Taugwald, who knew something 
about the plants in the district. On going up the valley, not far 
from Zermatt, marks of polishing and striation are seen on some 
of the rocks. We made our way gradually through the wood 
and up the mountain to the Riffel Hétel, kept by a brother of 
M. Seiler, who was also very kind and attentive. On rocks 
during the ascent to Riffel and near Zermatt gathered Gentiana 
nivalis and Oxytropis campestris. On reaching the hotel we 
arranged for beds, table d’héte, &c., and then started on our way 
to the alpine heights. We walked through snow sometimes 
more than a foot deep up to the Gorner Grat, seeing only 
now and then a plant on some bare rock where the snow had 
melted ; we were most annoyed at our inability to procure speci- 
mens, for we had all along looked to the hills in this quarter as 
- our best botanical district. 
After lunching on the Gorner Grat we prepared to descend. 
The greater number returned from the Gorner Grat to the Riffel, 
while Messrs. Buchan, A. Graham, self, and guide made an ex- 
cursion to some rocks by the side of the Great Glacier, where the 
snow had melted more fully on the south and west. Mr Turn- 
bull also accompanied us during part of the time. Here we 
gathered our best alpine plants :— 
Phaca astragalina Senecio uniflorus 
Oxytropis campestris Campanula cenisia 
* ceerulea Gentiana nivalis 
e: montana r glacialis 
Valeriana celtica Veronica saxatilis 
Artemisia glacialis | » alpina 
ata Pinus Cembra (near Zer- 
I 
Arnica scorpioides matt) 
We returned to the hotel about 6 for table d’héte. The effects of 
the sun’s reflection from the snow was now visible on all our 
faces ; some of us suffered very severely. We had intended to 
take another day’s botanising here, visiting the Furggen glacier, 
close under the Matterhorn precipices, and the Zmutt glacier; but 
the effects of our adventure to-day were such as to make the 
party resolve to return to Zermatt. All were discouraged by the 
