SOME FLOWERS OF GIBRALTAR AND ALGECIRAS. 175 



the beginning of April — saw it again at Algiers, and there of all shades 

 from light blue to dirty white. It is hardy enough to flower out of doors 

 in the milder parts of England, and I have known it to blossom well in a 

 South Welsh garden ; but there it did not, and was not likely to come up 

 to the size and colour it attains in its native place. A splendid large pink 

 and white Candy Tuft, Iberis gibrzltarica, grows on the Eock of Gibraltar, 

 a shrubby perennial like that common to English gardens, but larger and 

 finer. It is peculiar to the Rock and found nowhere else. And though 

 others may have seen it elsewhere, I have never elsewhere found such a 

 pure white Periwinkle as in one spot at Gibraltar. A great part of the 

 Rock as well as many places on the Spanish coast and that of Morocco 

 are covered with periwinkles of the same kind as the pale-grey ones of 

 the Riviera. They are rather smaller than the ordinary large blue Peri- 

 winkle (which also grows on the Riviera) and quite distinct from it as well 

 as from the small variety indigenous in England and many other coun- 

 tries. This medium variety is very lovely and of various shades of blue 

 and grey ; but I have only found it white this once, and most beautiful it 

 was. Early in February the open ground and rocks at Gibraltar were 

 literally purple with a large species of Bomulca, like a big Crocus with 

 an orange throat. On Europa Point it grew not singly, but in crowded 

 clumps — even on the edge of the hard road. Mixed with it on the north 

 front and neutral ground was a much smaller and less striking one, 

 varying in colour from purple to pink. Later I found it near Tangier, but 

 there it was larger and of an invariable bright lilac. These Romuleas 

 are altogether distinct from the pale species which grows in Algeria, and 

 are much handsomer. Early in the year the Rock of Gibraltar is covered 

 with the white paper Narcissus, which is also found in the South of 

 Spain ; but I was too late to see anything but its seed. There is the 

 large pink Mint, common to the South of Spain, and many of the same 

 sweet- smelling herbs, though there is certainly an absence of many of 

 those abundant on the shores of Spain and Italy. There is very little, if 

 any, Mediterranean Heath, either white or pink, though both of them 

 grow plentifully in the cork woods of Algeciras just across the bay. Nor 

 did I find much if any Myrtle at Gibraltar, though it grew near Algeciras. 



Although there seems to be very little " rock fever " now remaining at 

 Gibraltar, thanks to modern drainage and strict rules as to cleansing of 

 the streets, it cannot be a specially good health resort, considering its 

 very limited area, its crowded town, and the draughts when the wind is 

 in certain quarters. But Algeciras, just on the other side of the bay, and 

 within half an hour by steamboat, seems to have a pure and healthy air. 

 It is sheltered from the west wind by a wall of wooded hills which might 

 almost be called mountains. Hitherto there has been no accommodation 

 good enough to tempt any one to remain there more than the one night 

 necessary for catching a most ill-timed and inconvenient Spanish train ; 

 but a new and luxurious hotel has been lately built, and is shortly to be 

 opened, on the shore outside the town, where those who wish to be near 

 friends at Gibraltar will be within easy reach of them, and those who 

 desire to catch trains without a preliminary ordeal of discomfort may rest 

 in peace. Special provision has been made for those English people who 

 must continue their national habits and pastimes wherever they go, and 



