76 VISITS TO MADAGASCAR. chap. in. 



descend. On entering the wood, we collected specimens of 

 plants and ferns at the different points we had marked on 

 our way up ; and by the time we had reached the shoulder 

 of the mountain, the men were pretty well loaded. Amongst 

 the ferns were iDeautiful specimens of Asplenium macro- 

 phyllum and Adiantmn pallens. A few clouds had ga- 

 thered round the summit of the mountain, or the heat would 

 have been severe. As it was, we were glad to seek the 

 thickest shade for rest, while the men prepared our dinner. 



Having despatched our repast, with a refreshing cup of 

 tea, one of my companions returned direct to the town, and 

 the other and myself penetrated the wood along the base of 

 the mountain in search of plants. A healthy AngrcecuTn 

 elatum in flower, and a fine specimen of the calanthe- 

 looking plant were among the first we found. The bed of 

 the ravine was filled up with masses of rock covered with 

 trees and overgrown with creepers and ferns. Such superb 

 specimens I had never dreamed of. A frond of Aspleniinii 

 nidus was between five and six feet long, and eight inches 

 across, covered on the under side with the most beautiful 

 fructification. One head of graceful Lomaria circinata I 

 could not help bringing away with me, for it was covered with 

 seed ; as were some other beautiful kinds, which I hope to 

 reproduce from the seed thus secured. We saw but few 

 flowering plants here. The fragrant erythrospermum and 

 the amaran thus-like Gnaphalium multicaide, and others in 

 flower, were only seen on the higher parts of the mountains. 

 Orchids, however, were still the chief objects of our search, 

 and we were soon separated by the masses of rock intervening 

 between the objects to which we were attracted in different 

 directions ; so that we hailed each other sometimes from a 

 considerable distance, as, one after another, some apparently 

 new form of orchid presented itself to view ; and to be ac- 

 tually amongst plants of this rare and beautiful kind, grow- 



