Rocky Mountains. 17 



In the afternoon we moved on, descending the little stream 

 on which we had halted for dinner. Like the small branches 

 of the Platte it is inhabited by great numbers of beaver, but 

 has more timber and a more fertile soil than any stream of 

 similar magnitude we had lately passed. Some light show- 

 ers occurred in the middle of the day, and at evening a thun- 

 der storm was observed, in the same manner as on the pre- 

 ceding day, to collect in the east, and after we had listened 

 to its thunders for some time it moved off in the direction 

 of the Arkansa, but no rain fell where we were. In the course 

 of the day several elk were seen, and at evening we killed an 

 antelope. Robins are here frequent, and a Jerboa was seen 

 resembling the Gerbillus canade7isis. Many fine plants were 

 collected, several of which are hitherto undescribed.* 



Towards evening our guide discovered we had already 

 passed considerably beyond the base of the Peak, near which 

 it had been our intention to halt. As we were particularly 

 desirous of visiting the mountains at the point designated in 

 many maps as the " Highest Peak^'' we resolved to return 

 upon our course, but as it was now near sunset we thought 

 it advisable to encamp for the night. 



Our journey had been pursued in a bison path, and although 

 not in the direction of our proper course, serving only to pro- 

 long our march without advancing us towards the end of our 



* One of these is a large and conspicuous plant of the natural famil}' of 

 the CrucifercE, which may be referred to the new Genus Stanlej ea of 

 Nuttall, and distinguished as d. integrifolia. Stem simple, leaves entire, 

 ovate, oblong, tapering to both ends: stem angular; flowers in a terminal 

 raceme, which is a little branclied below; about six inches in length. 

 Stipe of the silique, about as long as the pedicel. Flowers large, yellow. 

 The whole plant, seen at a little distance, has a remote resemblance to Ly- 

 simachia thyrsifolia. The leaves are five or six inches long, two or three 

 wide, glaucous and veined, in surface and colour, nearly resembling those 

 of the common cabbage, which they are not wholly unlike in taste. The 

 calyx is large, and of a brighter yellow than the other parts of the flower. 

 It inhabits the summits of the sandstone ridges along the base of the moun- 

 tains. The S. piiinatifida, .'V., the original type of this genus was found 

 by its discoverer, Mr. Nuttall, to act as a violent emetic. It had been 

 eaten by several of the party, who accompanied him, as a substitute for 

 cabbage. 



VOL. II. 3 



