132 NEW TEACKS IN NOETH AMEEICA. 



Close to the stream I found a very large species of Datui-a 

 wHch, I believe, is a native of Northern and New Mexico 

 only — Datura meteloides. The flower looks at first sighf 

 like a huge convolyulns, wliose corolla is eight inches in 

 length from base to margin, and often five or six inches in 

 diameter when fully exx3anded. (See Plate, p. 106.) 



The seed-vessels look like balls covered with long spines ; 

 the plant attains a height of five feet, and has an unpleasant 

 odour, but the flowers are agreeably scented.* 



Next morning we started afresh, in better form, with foiir 

 mules to our wagon, and did not again come to grief between 

 the Pecos crossing and Santa Pe, 



A long day's ride brought us, towards sunset, out of tli^ 

 wooded district upon the vast plain which forms the summit 



Sunday, ^^ ^^16 divide betwoon the Pecos and Eio Grande. 

 Sept. 7. y^Q passed rapidly on in the hopes of findii^ 

 some lagnnas, the only reliable water-holes within many miles 

 on this lofty table-land ; bnt were obliged at last to give 

 the search, to stop for the night, and to let loose onr thirsty 



1 



animals, to get on as best they might. They were very rest- 

 less, however, and soon made off on an independent scout 

 We followed in considerable fear, lest they had made up their 

 minds to return to the last di-inking-place, some twenty mil 

 in the rear ; but to oui- infinite surprise, after a three miles' 

 run, they stopped suddenly at a little rich green patcB- 

 which turned out to be a good water-hole some ten feet 

 square. Horses and mules, if left to themselves, will 

 find water for the traveller when he has failed, but th 



often 



iT 



always the great risk of. their quietly trotting back to tii? 



* As some discussion has taken place as to the identity of this Ne'w^ Mexican 

 plant and De CandoUe's, I may add that the calyx in my specimen is 10-denta 

 "whereas Gray describes it as 5-dentate. See note, page 154, in "Mexico 

 Boundary Survey, " yoL ii. This plant is No. 5 in my collection. 



* 



