388 Observat'io7is on the Flora of Courfnllnm. [Oct. 



most proniinont place: specips of these families nro to hft 

 met with every w here, presenting every variety of form, 

 from the humble nettle and minute euphorbia, up to the 

 majestic Ficus, l.)0 feet in lieiiTht, and the umbra/;ious 

 Aleuretes and Microekis ai*Grdii)g an almost impenetra- 

 ble shade. The last family I shall name, the ferns, 

 estimable alike on account of the variety and delicacy of 

 their forms, their beautiful deep careen colour, their mo- 

 dest retiring disposition, always preferring the shade, and 

 lastly on account of the early associations which they call 

 to mind, are especially abundant in the dark forests 

 which clothe these glens. 



Having extended these rather desultory remarks on 

 the vegetation of those hills far beyond what I original- 

 ly intended, with the view of adapting this introductory 

 paper to the perusal of the general reader, who might 

 feel but little interested in the more minute details, which 

 are to follow in my next, I shall now conclude with a 

 a few words on the pr obable extent of the Flora of thi,* 

 part of India. 



I have already mentioned that, on account of its 

 coolness and the sidubrity of its climate, Courtal- 

 lum is, at this season, the favorite resort of invalid.?. 

 Some of my patients having gone there, my presence 

 was twice required, and in the absence of pressing 

 business here my stay was each time extended to about 

 10 days. On both occasions I made several excursions, 

 ,n all about 12, most of them occupying the whole day. 

 ^Such only were the slender opportunities I enjoyed of 

 examining this Flora, which I mention to prevent more 

 importance being attached to my conclusions, than the 

 facts from which they are deduced may warrant. The 

 parts explored, were, with one exception, merely the 

 northern slopes of the hills, or those facing the plain, 

 which, the exception taught me, were the least rich irt 

 forms new to rne. My last excursion extended to a hiU 



