VOLCANOS OF THE HAUTE LOIRE AND THE ARDECHE. 335 
smaller, and has no crater. Its lava flowed into the channel of 
the Ardeche on the south of the granite ridge, out of which it 
burst ; while that of the Hravenne was erupted down the bed 
of the Fontaulier on the north of the ridge. In the summer 
the botanist should look for a good plant, Nothochloena marance , 
which grows on the basalt above the sides ; as also does Spi- 
ranthes cestivalis. Carduus vivarensis and Gephalanthera 
rubra were found here, as well as in the crater of Jaujac, in the 
summer months, by my friends Mr. John Kent and Mr. Elmes 
Steele, who botanized over this district in 1874. When we 
were there in the autumn the base of the hills was clothed 
with Dianthus hirtus , prolifer , and superbus ; and from the 
same neighbourhood we gathered Taraxacum gymnanthus , 
Chondrilla juncea , and Borkhausia fcetida. We here saw the 
Camberwell Beauty ( Vanessa antiopa ) flitting along the great 
walls of columnar basalt above the river. 
Vais is celebrated for its mineral springs. It lies in an 
amphitheatre of low wooded hills, and through the beautiful 
village flows the Volane stream, which is a tributary of the 
Ardeche. The source of the river Volane is among the granite 
mountains above Antraigues, and the most remarkable volcanic 
scenery in southern France. The time must come, when the 
railway is open from Montelimart to Aubenas, when Vais will 
be more frequented than any of the thermo-mineral sources of 
La Belle France. The mountain streams are full of fish, for 
they are but little fished ; and we saw red-legged partridges 
and quail, and feasted on wild-boar hams from the forests on 
the mountains. The cuisine was excellent at the Hotel des 
Bains, and the horses were strong and able. To the artist, 
geologist, and botanist the surrounding country is singularly 
attractive ; indeed, it is extraordinary in more than one of its 
characteristics. The drive from Vais to Montpesat is about 
twelve miles, and is one of rare beauty and interest. We pass 
through the village of La Baume, which is itself quaint and 
interesting, and would serve as quarters for a few nights to 
those more active geologists who do not object to a little rough- 
ing. I would invite the attention of all geologists to a section 
on the right bank of the river, above the bridge at La Baume, 
and nearly opposite the ruined castle of Pourcheirolles. Here 
the columnar basalt, which runs like a vast wall by the river 
side, has been blown through by a 66 chimney ” of volcanic ash 
and scoriae, evidently of later date than the outpouring and 
consolidation of the basalts. Higher up the river the Baume 
basalts may be seen, overlain by an ancient river bed. Some 
time since I threw out the suggestion in “Nature” (No. 317, 
Vol. XIII.), that these volcanic outbursts and eruptions through 
basalts may have happened even in historic times; for the 
