FAUNA AND FLORA OF SINAI, PETRA, AND WADY 'ARAB AH. 59 



The need of water is of course everywhere apparent. Withered remains 

 are scarcer than in the desert, and the ground is often bare for consider- 

 able spaces, or with a few early patches of species to be presently 

 mentioned. It becomes difficult to recall the existence of the contiguous 

 Ghor flora, with its perennial luxuriance. Hardly a bush and no trees are 

 observed to break the monotony. Travelling still westwards, evidences 

 of cultivation, that is to say of the soil being ' scratched ' and sown, appear. 

 Soon after Bir es Seb'a, two days from the Gh6r, we find ourselves 

 amongst softly-swelling downs covered with sowers and ploughers, but 

 otherwise monotonous in aspect, as the cretaceous limestone formation 

 usually is. 



The species first observed at the head of Widy Zuweirah and upwards 

 to Bir es SebA were numerous, many of them spring Mediterranean 

 species just opening their flowers. The following were conspicuous : 

 Carrichtera Vellce, D.C.; Biscutella Columns, Ten.; Enarthrocarpus 

 lyratus, Del. (?); Silene dichotoma, Ehr.; S. Hussoni., Boiss.; Helian- 

 themum Kahiricum, Del.; Astragalus sanctus, Boiss.; A. alexandrinus, 

 Boiss.; Erodium cicutariuin, Linn.; Senecio coronopifolius, Del.; Scorzonera 

 lanata, M.B.; Calendula arvensis, Linn.; Achillea santolina, Linn.; 

 Anchusa Milleri, Willd.; Cyclamen latifolium, Sibth.; Ajugalva, Schreb.; 

 Satureia cuneifolia, Ten.; Marrubium alysson, Linn.; Salvia verbenaca, 

 Linn.; S. conlroversa, Ten.; S. cBgyptiaca, Linn.; Eremostachys laciniata, 

 Linn, (in leaf only) ; Paronychia argentea, Lam., and Urginea undulata, 

 Steinh. (?). Several of these are pretty little bright-flowered yellow 

 and blue annuals. 



We were now travelling on horseback, and I had no longer the same 

 facilities for botanizing. The pace was usually too fast. My method was 

 to keep well ahead till I reached some inviting point, and then dismount 

 and botanize, usually holding a rein across my arm. The result was 

 ■ that I was usually left far behind, or in hot pursuit of the party. Some- 

 times I lost my way altogether. It would have needed a botanical circus 

 rider to get on and off his horse with comfort as fast as new flowers 

 occurred. 



Several mosses and lichens were gathered on this march. The mosses 

 were Tortula muralis, Linn.; Bryum atropurpureum, W. et M., and a 

 Hepatica, Riccia lamellosa, Raddi. The mosses are both British species. 



8—2 



