268 
to pay much attention to the precise local 
habitat, but rather to explain the soil and 
circumstances under which the plant is 
found 
As my object is to assist the traveller in 
his researches, by pointing out to him the 
localities to which he may, with most hope 
of advantage, direct his attention, it may 
not be amiss to extract some of Desvaux's 
notices on this head. 
“In the immediate neighbourhood of 
Angers, to the West (by the map it would 
appear to be to the N. W.), the shores and 
surrounding slopes of the pool of Saint 
Nicolas are truly rich, especially in Cryp- 
togamous plants. The wood of La Hage, 
which joins it, is become private property, 
but most of the plants which it contained 
may be found in the adjoining wood of Av- 
rille. In both the soil is schistose. 
“ Half a league S.S.E. of Angers, is a 
place called Les Justices, where in some 
ancient hollows formed by digging for 
slate, a rich harvest may be made. Les 
Fourneaux on the North (qu. N.E.), and 
almost at the gate of Angers, present many 
of those which affect a calcareous soil, 
though the quarries have a good deal dis- 
turbed the face of the country. These 
plants are seen more abundantly, further 
on at Pelouailles, two leagues N. N. E, of 
Angers. Towards Briolay, about the same 
“ Extending our researches to a greater 
distance, we find on the South the produc- 
tive banks which border the valley of the 
Layon, and S.S. E., at four leagues from 
Angers, the extensive forest of Brissac, (in 
this forest the Menziesia Dabeoci is found 
in three different spots,) on the S. E. to- 
wards Brain sur l'Anthiou, on an alluvial 
territory, and above all, towards Beauné, 
more to the E., in a calcareous district, we 
meot with 
VUL W aval Hia y fare 
1 
4 Cau wS 
ACCOUNT OF A BOTANICAL EXCURSION INTO BRITTANY. 
and cultivated ground. Towards Louroux, 
cursions do not extend beyond four leagues 
from Angers; but at a still further distance 
we may visit the marshes, pools, and /andes 
of Chaloché at six leagues to the N. W. 
About the same distance on the S. many 
rare plants of a limestone district will be : 
found on the hills at Chavaigne, Aubigné, 
and Briant, and we may visit at the same 
time the curious siliceous hill near the 
chalybeate spring of Jouanet, the little 
plain of Noyers, and the hill of the Fon- 
taine Saint Martin. Towards the W.S.W. 
in the delightful country of Mauges, we 
find a varied vegetation, beautiful scenery, 
and inhabitants the most upright and ho- 
jou. The neighbourhood of Segré vill 
yield the Botanist some species which pre- 
fer a granitic soil. Still further, at bc 
extremities of Anjou, we may viet with E 
advantage the neighbourhood of Chateau- Y 
N., five or six leagues from — 
Angers, the forest of Chambiers (which. 5 
neuf to the 
furnishes Helianthemum umbellatum), and 
the sands of Durtal on the N. E.; to the 
North-West, the forest of Ombre, the 
landes of Chalain, and the environs of 
Pouancé ; and towards the East the iy 2 
of Chanlais, Mouleherne, and Louroux, t^e 
environs of Noyau and Baugé, and those s 
of Langué, where the soil is sandy.” 
I have omitted some places, where the ; 
account seemed too vague to be usen; 
but perhaps I ought to notice Chateau 2 
Gautier, several spots in whose immediate — 
: Md 
neighbourhood are mentioned. Neither 
the distances nor the direction of the place 
in the map, 
meant by leagues. 
of four thousand métres is barely two 
and a half English. The old post leag"? 
miles 3 
