Feb. 1830. 



GEOLOGY BOTANY. 



305 



green-stone, and trap, which appears, at first sight, to be vol- 

 canic ; but, on a more particular examination, the lava-like 

 appearance of the rock does not seem to arise from an igneous 

 origin. 



The green-stone is full of crystals of olivine, which, as they 

 decompose, leate hollows, resembling those of scoriae. Mr. Cald- 

 cleugh communicated an account of the structure to the Geo- 

 logical Society.*" In Captain HalFs interesting journal, there 

 is a list of Geological and Mineralogical specimens, of which 

 one from Mas-a-fuera-|- is named ' Vesicular Lava." May it not 

 be this same rock in a decomposed state ? 



The late Signor Bertero, whose botanical collections from 

 Chile have enriched many of the principal herbaria in Europe, 

 accompanied me to make a collection of the Flora of the 

 island ; and he considered that the character of the vegetation 

 was very little allied to the Chilian, but partook more of that 

 of California. The sandal-wood, which has been described as 

 indigenous to this island, was not found by us, growing, but 

 a large quantity was collected about the hills and v allies, in a 

 dry state, and apparently very old. It is of the red kind, and 

 still preserves a strong scent. The mayor-domo told me there 

 were no sandal- wood trees in the island ; but we had reason 

 to think his information was incorrect, for one of the inha- 

 bitants would have taken us to a place where he said they were 

 growing in large quantities, had not our arrangements for sail- 

 ing interfered. 



The island produces several kinds of grass ; but the most 

 abundant herbaceous plant is a species of oat, which grows 

 very luxuriantly, and towards the westward covers the ground 

 for many miles. The neighbourhood of Cumberland Bay is 

 over-run with strawberry plants, wild radishes, mint, and 

 balm, besides peach, apple, cherry, and fig trees, which are 



* Phil. Journal, and Annals of Philosophy, for March 1831 (new 

 series x.), 220. 



t Juan Fernandez is called * de Tierra,' because it is nearer the main- 

 land than another adjacent island, which is called ' Mas-a-fuera ' (farther 

 off, or more in the distance). 



VOL. I, X 



