1841.] Memoranda on the s Chulchulheera' of the Hills. 379 



three, and perhaps four years since they were collected. I proceed now 

 to set down such remarks as occur to me. 



There must be in all countries a season at which lichens and mosses, 

 like all other vegetable productions, possess the largest quantities of 

 colouring matter. At what time this occurs for Indian lichens, we at 

 present know not : for those of the Himalayas' it is probably the autumn, 

 and in other parts the driest seasons. 



Judging from the under surfaces, some of these which I have tested 

 are tree, and others rock-lichens ; but there must be great numbers more 

 of both kinds in those extensive regions. The rock lichens of cold 

 countries are usually the best, as far as our knowledge yet goes. 



We know nothing hitherto of the forest-mosses and lichens of the 

 vast jungles of India, from Assam to Goandwana, and from the Terai of 

 Nepaul to the Sunderbunds, the forests of the Southern Ghats, and those 

 of Ceylon, Arracan, and Tenasserim I It is true that it is, as yet, supposed 

 that the lichens of hot and humid climates are little productive of co- 

 louring matters ; but I know not on what this notion is founded. There 

 would seem to be as many probabilities the other way. 



And when all the lichens, above alluded to, are examined, we have 

 other vast fields and these of great promise. I mean the great volcanic 

 plateau of Central India, from the basaltic rocks of Bundlecund to the 

 Toombuddra ; the points where, as at Vizagapatam and Cape Comorin, 

 the granite meets the sea ; those where, as in some parts of Malabar, 

 the trap rocks from the coast ; and the whole of the range of coast and 

 islands, of every formation, which form the eastern shores of the Bay. 

 We may in fact, from the infinitely varied condition of climate, rock, and 

 soil, which I can only hint at here, except every possible variety of moss 

 and lichen ; and that many of these must be new and valuable. 



Provided a lichen yields a strong and bright colour, we may always 

 hope that it may be turned to account. It will be noted, that all these, 

 which I have now examined, give colours which lie on the yellow side 

 of the red, and not on the blue side of it, which would produce the vio- 

 lets. I mention this, because there seems a notion abroad, that only those 

 w T hich yield at once the violet-reds to the ammoniacal test are of any 

 value. In the instructions for Capt. Beechey, on his voyage to the Straits 

 of Magellan, this is indeed pretty nearly said in direct words. Now we 

 know that, from Lapland to the Mediteranean, the rocks of Europe 

 have been pretty nearly stripped of their lichens, by agents sent out from 

 the great silk and cotton-printing establishments, for much of the work 

 of which the rich Canary lichens are unsuitable, and far too dear. We way 



