56 The Genus Azima. 



Fig. 2. Portion of a branch of the pistiliferous plant. Nat. Size. 



a. A single flower, showing its position with reference to 



the prickles and petiole. 



b. A flower laid open. 



c. Abortive anthers. 



d. Verticle section of an ovary. 



e. Horizontal ditto ditto. 



/ Ditto ditto of a ripe fruit. 

 g. A seed. 

 h. An embryo. 



To the Editor of the Calcutta Journal of Natural History. 



My dear Sir, — After an attentive perusal of Mr. Batten's remarks 

 on the snow line of the Himalayas, published in the Journal for 

 October, 1844, 1 can see no reason whatever for altering my opinions 

 on the subject. The very self-sufficient tone which pervades that 

 gentleman's critique, would have induced me to waive the farther 

 discussion of the subject, did it not occur to me that my silence 

 might lead to the belief that I yielded the point at issue, which is 

 so far from being the case, that I am now more than ever convinced, 

 from all Mr. Batten has urged, of the erroneousness of the hitherto 

 received doctrine when applied to the Himalaya, as a general rule. 

 Although, therefore it may appear highly presumptuous to array the 

 opinions of such light authorities as Dr's. Gerard and Lord, Captains 

 Cunningham, Jack and myself, against those of the Commissioner 

 of Kemaon, I shall nevertheless, for the sake of truth, endeavour 

 as briefly as possible to show the actual facts of the case, as they 

 now appear to be elicited by the controversy. 



In his zeal to defend Captain Webb and others from an attack 

 which had existence no where save in his own imagination, Mr. 

 Batten appears entirely to have overlooked the fact, that what may 

 be locally true in some parts of so vast and extensive a range as 

 that generally known as the Himalaya, may yet be quite the reverse 

 elsewhere on the same range, and this with regard to the question at 

 issue appears to be precisely the case. I will venture to say that in 

 recording our individual observations, it never for a moment entered 



