326 A, G. Tansley. 
effect very strange to the eyes of a European, unless it be rivalled 
in parts of Spain. Brown, brown-green, and light orange pre¬ 
dominate. Usnea thickly covers the dead branches and twigs on 
the windward side of the oaks and Trentepohlia forms a brick-red 
feltwork on the dead branches of the cypresses. In the rock-bound 
bays the enormous fronds of the giant Laminarian seaweeds rise 
and fall on the Pacific swell. The prevailing brown-yellow tone of 
the landscape was marvellously enhanced at sunset by a flood of 
orange light from the west. 
Southern California. 
On the morning of September 17th the party left Carmel and 
travelled southwards on the Southern Pacific towards Los Angeles, 
passing through much characteristic Californian country—broad 
fertile valleys, and hills covered with chaparral alternating with the 
stretches of dry grassland and scattered evergreen oaks so often 
mentioned. On crossing the Santa Margarita mountains, a few 
miles before reaching San Luis Obispo, the party met with quite 
an exciting adventure. The train was held up for several hours just 
outside a tunnel, because the next tunnel was on fire. At dusk 
the word came that we were to be transferred to another train on 
the other side of the burning tunnel. We had to reach the other 
train by a narrow path over the chaparral-covered mountain, the 
chaparral having just been burnt by the fire so that the blackened 
soil was still hot. Encumbered with our “ hand-luggage,” almost 
more than we could carry for any distance, we struggled along the 
narrow path, and in the middle of the route met a line of people in 
the same case, coming from the other train, and “being transferred” 
to the one we had just left. The slope was steep and it was diffi¬ 
cult to pass and keep one’s footing. There were old infirm people, 
and women with babies and children. It took about an hour to 
perform the journey of less than a mile, and the scene, lighted up 
by the lamps and torches of the railway men and backed by the 
indescribably vivid orange of the Californian afterglow behind the 
hills, was unforgettable. Everyone was exceedingly kind and 
helpful, and the patient uncomplaining way in which those who 
suffered most took the unpleasant experience was exceedingly striking. 
As we passed the burning end of the tunnel the fierce flaming of the 
gigantic beams fallen from the roof across the opening was very 
impressive in the gathering night. * The fire was so serious that after 
repeated and ineffectual efforts to put it out the tunnel had to be 
