Untitled - The Alfred Russel Wallace Website

92 NOTES OF A BOTANIST CHAP.
ridge on the eastern side, he heard it blowing all
night. On the top of the narrow ridge of crumbling
sandstone covered with a dwarf herbaceous
and shrubby vegetation, it is hardly possible to
walk on account of its violence. Spruce here
remarks :
" The descent on the east side of this
col, towards Chasuta, is very abrupt ;
the trees
are mostly low; they, like the rocks and the
ground, are densely clad with Hepaticae (especially
Mastigobryum, Lepidozia, and Plagiochila), among
which grew several ferns, especially some inter-
esting arborescent species of small size. In places
where the road has been cut or worn down,
so as to form deep hollows, the walls (red sandy
clay) are clad with mosses and ferns, especially a
pretty little Lindsaea and three species
manes."
of Tricho-
Later, in the Journal of his voyage from
Tarapoto to Ecuador, he speaks of this descent
from the ridge of Guayrapurima to a clear stream
called Carana, as being " the richest bit of fern
ground ; while, after
another hour's journey and a steep descent, he
I had seen in the world "
reached the Yacu-catina, which he describes as
"a most picturesque rivulet with a magnificent
fern and forest vegetation."
His next expedition was to Chapaja, on the
banks of the Huallaga, in October 1855 ;
this there are no notes.
but
of
Early in November he took a two days' expedition
" to the head of the Cumbasa river and Mount
Canela-uesha, on the way to the stream Cainarache,
down which canoes pass to Yurimaguas."
In November and December 1855, he took his