12 
the start, and it was lessened considerably when one of us dis- 
covered that his share had disappeared. Of course he began to 
get very hungry as soon as the loss was noticed, and there was 
great lamentation when he pictured how some wandering dog, or, 
perchance, a bear, would feast on his chicken and biscuits. Find- 
ing at length that the outer man was unable to make much head- 
way, it was decided to fill up the inner one at the first suitable 
place. Pie was demanded, but there was nothing of that de- 
scription to be had. Cold potatoes and cold corn-bread, the 
heaviness of which was enough to cause a man with a cast-iron 
digestive apparatus to turn pale, were set before us. We ate, 
and, to our astonishment, are still alive. 
While passing through the John’s river valley, a heavy 
thunder-storm came over the mountains and, in the excitement, 
collecting suffered. Only one plant was picked up, but it was an 
important discovery— Verbena riparia.* 
This brings to light another species which Rafinesque col- 
lected and named many years ago. The type 15 preserved in 
the Columbia College Herbarium, and it seems strange, but it is 
evident that neither Dr. Gray nor Dr. Engelmann ever saw it, 
for no reference is made to it in their respective works on the 
genus. We found it in the mountains on the banks of the 
John’s river and in the low country at the falls of the Yadkin, in 
both cases true to the name which Rafinesque gave to it. 
The only adventure worth recording was the meeting of a 
brace of wildcats just after nightfall as we were climbing the 
slopes of Blowing Rock mountain. Upon close inspection they 
turned out to be a branch with two bunches of leaves on it. 
One evening a zealous native appeared who was very anxious 
to guide us to some of the neighboring places. He got little en- 
couragement, but his pertinacity was prodigious. After he had 
persecuted us several times we concluded that he might act as 
guide on a trip to Stone mountain, and do service by carrying 
the baggage. ЫШ mountain is about twelve miles southeast of 
erbena riparia, Raf. (1830) V. kastata, L., var. oblongifolia, Nutt. Gene- 
ra, ii. 40 (7818)? өсін aus tati (average one meter), slightly four-angled, virgate- 
ly branched above, spikes very slender ; leaves а lanceolate to o vate-lanceo- 
nea! 
hastata, light blue; fruit scattered along slender bass 
