322 Scientific Intelligence. 
geographical miles of coast there are beautiful virgin forests of Steygium, 
Nauclea, Mimosew, Cesalpiniew, Combretacee, Spondiacee, &c., with 
twining plants and epiphytic orchids. Over the last of these dark green 
forests there rises to the height of about 4000 feet (French) above the sea, 
the majestic chain of Serra de Xella, covered to its summit with a light 
shade. It has a varied arborescent and herbaceous vegetation. On Go- 
lungo Alto (near St Paul’s de Loanda, Lat. 9°-10° S.), I found a 
pretty Oncoba (O. spinosa ?) forming here and there small forests, and in. 
the midst of most gigantic trees there rise like phantoms the triangular 
leafless stem of Euphorbia. At the summit of the mountain we met 
with Proteacee, Tarchonanthus, Echinodiscus (with a Rafflesiaceous 
parasite), Sapotacew, Parinarium, Combretacee, Brehmia (one of the 
Strychnee), Nathusia, Hymenodyction, and species of Loranthus, with 
gorgeously coloured flowers. We thus reach the plateau of Huilla, the 
vegetation of which indicates an elevated and new region. A perpetual 
spring reigns on this extended plateau on the eastern side. On the bor- 
ders of streams are found species of Salix, Rubus, two Epilobiums, a 
Nasturtium, a Rumex, a Juncus, two species of Triglochin; in the 
streams, three Potamogetons. In the midst of European forms we see two 
Ottelias, a Blywa (like a Valerian), a beautiful blue Nymphea, and 
various Utricularias. A Serpicula creeps in the marshy places asso- 
ciated with Lobeliacew ; five species of Drosera, eight or: nine Gentia- 
naceew, an Albuca, and a Kniphofia. On the soft surface of a mass of 
Sphagnum flourish numerous minute species of Scrophulariacee, ten 
species of Eriocaulon, a Burmannia, a Cyphia, two Trifoliums, a Ra- 
nunculus, two Scabiosas, and a gigantic Limosella, chiefly differing from 
the European species in the enormous size of its leaves. There are also 
small Cyperacew, a small Iscetes, and a primulaceous plant allied to Jire- 
sekia. In elevated moist places above, small species of Hypericum, Cen- 
tunculus, Phyllanthus, Commelyna, Polygala, Xyris, Hypowis, Oxalis, 
Striga, Rhamphicarpa, and numerous delicate Rubiacew, there rises 
in a pompous manner a Protea with a large head, while near the streams 
are pretty Melastomacew. In the small lakes there is a Richardia (with 
a yellow spathe), two species of Iris, several species of Morwa and Gila- 
diolus. The great Lake of Ivantala presents a species of Cabombaceew 
(Barteria africana, Welw.), not unlike Villarsia nympheoides in its 
leaves and Butomus in its flowers. In the elevated meadows, about 5500 
feet (French) above the level of the sea, we meet with copses composed 
of Duranta, Cyclonema, Vitex, Lantana, and other Verbenacee, shrubby 
Mimosas, Carissa, Solanum, Strophanthus, and two Anonacee, &e. In 
this region we have the forms and colours of a subalpine zone; but we 
find associated, in a limited space, representations of different and widely 
separated zones. The moist meadows present Polygala, Crotalaria, _ 
Lythrum, several Composite, and a species of Gloriosa; several Gladio- 
luses, twenty-two species of Orchidew (all terrestrial except one). The 
dry slopes and hillocks are clothed principally with woody or shrubby 
species of Labiatw, Acanthacew, Hypouidee, Convolvulacew, and Pa- 
pilionacee ; beautiful Liliacew (chiefly Asphodelew), Daphnoidew, Com- 
posite, Euphorbiacer, Graninew, Cyperacew, and Santalacee ; but the 
greatest ornament are several beautifully flowering Selaginew and two 
species of Clematis with large, pale, violet flowers. The valleys traversed 
by the water-courses contain more than thirty species of ferns, amongst 
which European ferns, as Pteris arguta and Osmunda regalis, are asso- 
ciated with arborescent species of Cyathea, and Gymnogrammas with 
yellow and white fronds, and species of the genera Anwmia and Gleichenia. 
Some pretty pines are found in moist rocks, and amongst them new 
species of Streptocarpus (S. monophylla, Welw.) On the border of the 
wood are numerous small Asclepiadacee and some Apocynacee.. Erect 
