350 
to cross. Here we found a few specimens 
of a kind of Alstremeria, with a long twin- 
ing stem, and then embarked in a rotten 
leaky canoe, to pass over the lake. The 
path which led to the house where we 
meant to take up our residence, lay for 
about two miles through a flat meadow- 
land, partly in its original state and partly 
planted with Indian Corn and Bananas, 
&c. During our walk, we observed a mi- 
gratory body of small black ants. The im- 
mense numberof individuals that composed 
it may be imagined from the fact, that the 
column was about six feet broad, and ex- 
tended in length to upwards of thirty yards, 
the ground being so completely covered 
with these little creatures, that the point 
of a pin could scarcely be put down with- 
out touching one. By dusk we reached 
the house, which is situated in a coffee 
plantation, called the Cruz, belonging to a 
Brazilian marquis, but of which the soil is 
too much worn out to answer the cost of 
culture. For the last five years the place 
has been rented by a party of English 
merchants, who resort thither during holi- 
days, and by the kindness of one of these, 
J. Dickenson, Esq., we were allowed to 
remain in it as long as we might choose. 
Next morning, after arranging the plants 
gathered the preceding day, we took a 
walk in the vicinity of our new quarters, 
and in a wood behind the house, collected 
specimens of an arborescent Solanum, 
with small white flowers, and resembling 
one of the Melastomacee. The soil, which 
during the more prosperous days of the 
estate had been under cultivation, was 
over-run with Pteris aquilina, a rank 
coarse Fern, quite like our own P, aquili- 
na, of which it is perhaps only a variety. 
By the side of a small stream that descends 
from a hill close by, we gathered a few 
specimens of an Irideous plant, with small 
yellow flowers, and some also of Besleria 
lutea. On our return we found, in a small 
stream that traverses a little meadow, a 
species of Herpestes, with nearly round 
leaves and light blue flowers. Darkness 
now obliged us to return, but having re- 
visited the spot next morning, we gathered 
BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
a small Sisyrinchium, and, on a dry 
Anagalhs cerulea was growing in 
plenty. This plant I have met with i 
three or four places, and feel no doubt of - 
its being a native of Brazil. We likewise _ 
collected specimens of a Plantago and Si- 
lene. On our return to the Cruz we pass- 
ed a small orchard of Apples, the only one 
I have seen in this country. The vicinity | 
of Rio is much too warm for this fruit, E 
while Tegnea, lying at a considerable ele- _ 
vation, possessesa much cooler atmosphere, ^ 
and produces, besides Apples, excellent — 
Figs, Grapes, and Peaches. : di 
* Early in the forenoon, we set off to — 
ascend the Pedra Bonita, a mountain situ- — 
ated immediately Lehind the Gavea, and 1 
on our way thither visited the Coffee Plan- — 
tations of Mrs. Mokes and Mr. Lescene, ; 
which are considered the two best-managed 3 
estates in the Province. From the garden E 
of the former proprietor the Oncidium 
Russellianum was first sent to the Duke 
of Bedford's gardens at Woburn Abbey; — 
and we looked about to see if any of it — 
remained, but could only find, among the E 
Epiphytous tribes, a few flowerless mei 
do-bulbs, growing on the stump of an old | 
tree. By the side of a stream which roe s 
through the valley where these plan " 
are situated, we noticed an arborescem — 
species of Urtica, with a stem eight inches 
in circumference, and more than fourteen | 
feet-high. On a dry bank grew Picha 
dra sericea and Hydrocotyle Asiatica, the 
latter one of the commonest productions a 
of the vicinity of Rio. Fora consi 
way, our ascending path was bordered with 
Orange-Trees, whose shadow was noe 
acceptable than their juicy fruit was grate" * 
ful. Thence, we came to a tract where ! 
the native forest having been felled, wa$ — 
replaced by a thick wood of young trees, 
consisting chiefly of arborescent Solanums 
Rollinia longifolia, &c., while great num- 
tree by their white bark, 
