ia 0 at ros
mM PFTOLOGICAL FOUKRNAL.

Vou. I. JANUARY, 1891. NO: 1%

A COLLECTOR’S NOTES ON VARIATION IN SHELES,
WITH SOME NEW VARIETIES.

(With Plate X.)
BY HENRY HEMPHILL.

The following notes and observations on the variations of some of
our West Coast shells may be useful to those interested in the study
of these little creatures, may help correct some errors, explain some
facts connected with their history that seem to be little understood,
and perhaps also may interest some who are pursuing the study of
other branches ofnaturalhistory. Thediscussions that have followed
the question of variation and its causes testify to its importance, and
all facts that tend, in any way, to throw light upon it should be given
out, so that we may in time arrive ata trustworthy solution of this
knotty problem.

In the study of variation among shells it is necessary to fully
understand the relations existing between the shell and animal, its
mode of growth and the purpose it serves these creatures, in order
to have a good foundation on which to base our conclusions.

The shell has often been compared to a house in which the animal
lives; but while this is true in one sense, the comparison is not good
from another point of view, because animals do not carry their houses
around with them on their backs.

The shell bears the same relation to the mollusk that a suit of
clothes does to the man, and is constructed and worn by. the animal
for protection against its enemies and atmospheric changes.

The habit of constructing the shell, I believe, has been acquired
by the animal; and as there are some, probably quite a number, who
may differ with me and call the shell a secretion and not a construc-
tion, I will point out briefly the differences, and draw the line
between a secretion and a construction as I understand them. This

‘

322 Variation in Shells. [ ZOE
will perhaps serve some good purpose by directing closer attention
to the relations existing between the shell and the animal, if it does
not settle the question in the minds of all.

The matter that enters into those parts of the body of an animal,
which we call secretions, such as bones, teeth, nails and hair, is
never under the control of the will of the animal, and these organs
are closely connected with the venous system of the body; conse-
quently they possess an inherent power of repair, and when fractured
or broken they grow or knit together by force of this inherent
power. No mechanical action whatever takes place by the other
organs in manipulating, forming or moulding their shape— their
form and size being determined by inherent laws, or by a principle
that might be compared to that possessed by seeds of plants which
determines their forms.

On the other hand, the secreted matter which enters into the
formation of shells is thrown out on the surface of the body and
mantle, and then becomes an excreted secretion, bearing the same
relation to the animal that all excretions or even foreign substances
do, for it has become separated from and lost that inherent power
that always remains with bones and other secretions.

Right here, then, I draw the line between a secretion and a con-
struction. This excreted matter is now subject only to the control
of the will of the animal, and it is accordingly used in suspending
and renewing construction of the shell at its convenience, and in
repairing fractures.

The shell possesses no inherent principle which determines its
form or growth, but on the contrary its growth is effected by irreg-
ular deposits, and its form is determined by the mechanical manip-
ulations of this deposited matter by the mantle of the animal.

“ The shell, as before stated, is formed by the mantle.” Wood-
ward’s Manual of the Mollusca, page 34.

‘“‘The edges of the mantle are often developed into fringes at
certain periods, and form the spines and other irregularities seen on
the surface of the shell.” Genera of Recent Mollusca, H. & A.
Adams, page 14. ‘

“ The shell being etttaveaculat has no inherent power of repair.”
Carpenter, Woodward, Tryon.

The above quotations fully indicate the mechanical action of the
mantle of the animal in forming and moulding the shell. If the

VOL 1] Variation in Shells. : 322

shell has no inherent power of repair, then all repairs which are
frequently performed on shells must be mechanical or constructive.
In order to show how completely the shell is under the control of
the will of the animal, I quote again from Woodward’s Manual of
the Mollusca, pages 35-36: .

_ “ The power which mollusks possess of dissolving portions of their
own shell is exhibited by the murices in removing those spines from
their whorls which interfere with their growth.”’

“The young cowry has a thin, sharp lip, which becomes coiled
inwards and enormously thickened and toothed in the adult;
the Teroceras develops its scorpion -like claws only when fully
grown; and the land snails form a thickened lip or narrow their
apertures with projecting processes, so that it is a marvel how they
pass in and out and how they exclude their eggs. Yet at this time
they would seem to require more space and accommodation in their
houses than before, and there are several curious ways in which
this is obtained. The Neritide and Auriculide dissolve all the
internal spiral column of their shells, the cone removes all but a_
paper-like portien of its inner whorls; the cowry goes still further,
and continues removing the internal layers of its shell wall, and
depositing new layers externally by its overlapping mantle, until,
in some cases, all resemblance to the young is lost in the adult.”

I quote the following from Tryon’s Structural and Systematic
Conchology, pages 31 and 32, which, it seems to me, is conclusive
evidence that not only is the shell a construction, but that its forma-
tion is an acquired habit:

‘‘ The question of the parasitism of the animal of the Argonaut in
its shell, originally assumed by distinguished naturalists, has been
so long debated that quite a literature upon the subject has accumu-
lated. The want of attachment of the animal by adductor muscles,
and the fact that the shell itself is not moulded on the animal’s body
and does not correspond to its shape, were considered such strong
evidences of parasitism that the animal itself was described as
Ocythe and the shell as Argonauta.”

“The observations of Madame Jeanette Power first set this vexed
question at rest by showing that the animal builds its shell by the
exudation of material from the expanded velamentous arm of the
female, instead of from the mantle, as in true shells.”

The isan is born without a spcapipets) > shell; wane the —

i

324 Variation in Shells. [ ZOE

male never possesses one, the female builds (constructs) one of the
most delicate and beautiful found in the sea, for a nest, in which she
deposits her eggs and hatches her young. This shell is not attached
to the animal, and is an undoubted construction. From all the
above quotations it will be seen we cannot call the shell a secretion,
because secretions possess an inherent power of repair; their form |
and size are determined by an inherent principle or law over which
the animal has no control. We cannot call it an excretion, for ex-
cretions are simply waste matter and without form. Construction,
then, it seems to me, is the only term we can apply to it, because it
is extravascular, possessing no inherent power of repair, no inherent
power that determines its form or size, and is put together and
moulded by the mechanical action of the mantle of the animal ; and
a thing thus put together should be considered the object of the
process that gives it its distinguishing character and name—shell.

Our West Coast shells, with few exceptions, seem to present a
_ greater amount of variation, or are in a more active state of tran-
sition from one form to another, or perhaps our collectors are more
lynx-eyed and push their investigations further im that direction
than their co-laborers on the other side of the continent, for we hear
but little about the variations of our Eastern shells, unless perchance
some collector from this far-off but glorious land straggles into that
field of research, while our West Coast shells are under considera-
tion a greater part of the time.

An exception, however, to some of the above remarks is found in |
the Unionidae and the Strepomatide — two large families of fresh-
water shells ‘‘ that form the special glory of North America,’’ on the
east side of the Rocky Mountains, where the streams abound in
species and varieties, and are fairly overcrowded with individuals,
while the entire water system west of that great range and extending
from Arizona to Alaska—an immense area —has rewarded the re-
searches of the collector, so far, with a dozen or two forms of doubt-
ful specific value, belonging to these great families. When we
consider the great variety of forms and number of individuals of
these classes of freshwater shells inhabiting the streams on the
eastern side of the great divide, the paucity of species and individ-.
uals of the same classes inhabiting the water-courses on the western ~
side becomes one of the most striking features of the study of Amer-
ican conchology, and an explanation of its causes would be one of

WoL. 1) Variation in Shells. 425

the most interesting contributions to our knowledge that has been
offered in many years. With the small number of species and indi-
viduals found over this area, we cannot look for many varieties. A
few, however, occur, and I now offer description of two varieties of
Anodons, and add some notes and discuss the probable origin of
our most and best marked species.

Anodonta angulata var. subangulata (plate x, figs. 1 and 2). In
general outline this form recalls at once its nearest relative, 4. angu-
lata Lea. Compared with that species, it is more oval in outline;
the ridge or angle radiating from the umbones to the anterior ventral
margin of the shell is nearly or quite obsolete in the specimens before
me; the anterior margin of the shell is more produced on its-dorsal
edge, while its ventral edge is more rounded at the point where the
angle terminates, and the intervening space between the angle and
front margin of the shell is less concave in form. The shell is also
less pointed and more rounded in its posterior outline, and is much
less inflated in general form. In color and lines of growth the two
shells agree fairly well.

Compared with Anodonta Oregonensis Lea., its next nearest rela-
tive, one variety is just the reverse in outline. It is broader in front
from its dorsal to its ventral margin, and narrower behind, while
A. Oregonensis is narrower in front from its dorsal to its ventral
margin and broader behind. A. Oregonensis is also much more
inflated, and some of its varieties inclined to be cylindrical, while
our variety is flat and compressed.

Habitat: Russian River, Putah Creek and Upper San Joaquin
River, California.

Length, from the anterior to posterior end, 334 inches. Height,
from the dorsal to the ventral margin, 134 inches. Breadth, between
valves, % inch. go

From the examination and study of quite a number of specimens
of both A. angulata and A. Oregonensis, 1 am strongly impressed
with the idea that the former has evolved from the latter, although
there is considerable difference in the form of the shells as well as in
the habits of the two animals; but when the streams and lakes in the
northern part of our State are thoroughly explored, I feel confident —
these gaps will be closed. | 4

Anodonta Oregonensis is a pond or lake, and not a river mussel,
although it is sometimes found in our rivers. In ponds and lakes,

326 2 Variation in Shells. [ ZOE
however, it attains its greatest size as well as number. I have
found it as far south as Los Angeles, but it cannot .be said to be an
abundant shell south of the Oregon line —at least I have not found
itso. In the ponds and lakes of Washington, however, it is quite
plentiful and leads an active life, as it can be traced by the deep
furrows it plows through the soft mud and sediment in seeking its
food and companions, or moves on, perhaps, by mere force of habit.

One other species, Anodonta angulata Lea. (figs. 5 and 6), is
- decidedly a river mussel, and is as rarely found in ponds or lakes
as A. Oregonensis is found in swift-running streams. Some years
ago I found two specimens of this shell on the shores of Blue Lakes,
Lake County, California, and the only ones I have found of this
species in ponds or lakes. It is somewhat gregarious in its habits,
and from its position when burrowing in the sand and mud I am
strongly impressed with the thought that it seldom leaves its situa-
tion in swift-running streams, unless compelled by force of adverse
circumstances.

About twelve or fifteen years ago I found a colony of A. angudata
in the San Joaquin River, California, by wading out into the stream
to where the water was waist deep. This colony had located itself
in a bed of stiff clay on the edge of a steep bank that led into the
channel of the river. By working my feet into this clay I could feel
the edges of the valves, and then, reaching down, dig them out with
my hands. The depth and muddy state of the water prevented me
from making observations on their habits further than noting that —
they were gregarious, as I found them burrowing in close proxim-
ity to one another in the stiff clay, with the anterior end of the shell
up.

In the fall of 1889, after rather a hard summer’s trip through the |
northern mountains collecting shells, I reached Weiser City, on the ©
banks of the small river bearing the same name, at its junction with
Snake River in Idaho, early in the month of October. The sum.
mer and fall had been excessively dry, and many of the springs and _

small streams in that section of the country had dried up and Snake
_ River had fallen almost to the proportions of a creek, exposing many
_ of the low bars and portions of the river’s bed that had not been
uncovered for years. This low stage of the water offered a good
opportunity for taking notes and making observations on the habits
of this class of fresh-water shells, which very fortunately I found
_ abundant.

VOL. 1: | Variation in Shells. 327

Anodonta angulata | found burrowing in beds of compact gravel
and sand, in an upright or perpendicular position, with the small
posterior end of the shell down and the broader or anterior end just
level with or a little above or below the surface of the surrounding
gravel beds. They seemed to prefer the steep sides of banks that
led into deep water as burrowing places, rather than the flat bars,

_although some were found in the latter places. I did not find them
living in such large colonies as those in the San Joaquin River, yet
their habits in that respect agreed fairly well. My previous impres-
sion that they were somewhat sedentary was greatly strengthened
by their burrowing habits and position in these gravel beds, and
their somewhat gregarious habits here, especially when we remember
that all sedentary mollusks are gregarious.

With the knowledge of its habits and the factors in its environ-
ment that act upon the shell, it is not difficult to recognize the causes
that produce the remarkable angles or ridges which radiate from -
the umbones to’ its anterior ventral margin, and at the same time
mould the concave form of that part of the shell between its anterior
margin and these ridges.

It will be readily seen by their upright position in the gravel beds
that the anterior or upper portion of the shell would be subjected
to the continual friction of the current, sand, gravel and debris
brought down the stream by the water, which in times of floods
would be excessive. Freshets occur quite often in these mountain
streams, especially in the spring or early part of the year—the season
when mollusks construct the greater part of their shell—and conse-
quently at this time these external conditions would have a greater
moulding influence on the form of the shell than at any other time. .
This rasping and wearing - away process, then, would require con-
stant efforts on the part of the animal to rebuild and keep that part
of shell in repair, and this constant direction of its energies to the
upper or anterior end of the shell, if continued for a great length of
time and through successive generations, would eventually result
in a greater development of the organs of the anterior part of the
body and a corresponding enlargement of the shell, probably at the —
expense of the posterior or lower end, and more especially would -

s this be the case when the shrinkage of the posterior end of the body

and shell would be found to be an advantage in burrowing in the ~
compact gravel beds. _ ef

*

328 Variation in Shells. [ ZOE

The moulding influence of the currents, sand and gravel, is plainly
seen on the upper portion of the shell (fig. 6), which is admir-
ably adapted to the purpose it serves and is strong evidence of its
sedentary habits, and to its incurving form is largely due the
prominence of those remarkable ridges or angles that constitute
the principal or distinguishing characters of the shell. This in-
curving then, of the upper part of the shell, would press down and
crowd the anterior portion of the body and compel its lateral ex-
pansion, then a corresponding enlargement of the shell would fol-
low, while the compact gravel on the outside acting.as a sort of
fulcrum would bring the pinch just about where these angles occur.

To sum up the matter then, we must suppose that Anodonta Ore-
gonensis, for some cause, has changed its habitat and station, from
the quiet or still waters of the pond or lake, to the rapid flowing
mountain stream.

Being unable to contend against the force of the current, it bur-
- rows in the compact sand and gravel for safety. The flowing waters
bring it an abundance of food, dispensing with the necessity of
moving around to secure it, and thus by force of circumstances it
becomes a sedentary river mussel, while the factors in its environ-
ment contending with the organic energy of the mollusk result in
a modified shell.

Anodonta Nuttalliana var. Idahoensts (figs. 3-4).

In general outline this variety is more oval than any of the other
forms of our West Coast Anodons. It occupies a position between
A. Californiensis and A. Oregonensis, and is one of those interme-
diate forms that are constantly occurring and shake our faith in what
we call species.

In the proportions of its length and height and its rounded
posterior outline, it resembles Anodonta Californiensis. In its breadth
between valves, and the smaller and more pointed anterior end of
the shell, and more especially in the less developed dorsal preva
tions of the valves, it resembles A. Ovegonensis.

In color and lines of growth it agrees fairly well with both of the! re

other species. In the young state the shell is higher in propor-
tion to its length, while the wings or dorsal prolongation of the
valves are a little more produced. The umbones of the very young
of all our West Coast forms, until they have attained about a-half
inch in length, present a peculiar wavy or corrugated appearance, a

Tee AS Ee Pe ee Pe eat eS

VOLs T.| Variation in Shells. 329

constant character, so far as I have observed, and one that seems to

have been overlooked by writers upon our Anodons.

Habitat, Spokane River, above Post Falls, Idaho.

Length, from the anterior to posterior end, 2} inches.

Height, from dorsal to ventral margin, 13 inches.

Breadth, between valves, 7 inch.

Mr. R.E. C. Stearns has published an excellent paper on our West
Coast Anodons, in which he shows by logical arguments and illus-
trations that the forms we know as Anodonta Nuttalliana, A. Wah-
lamatensis, A. Oregonensis and A. Californiensis are but varieties,
or “ expessions of one form,” and closely connected with the Eu-
ropean A. anatina and A. cygnea.

I would commend a close study of the facts this paper presents
to those who believe in the immutability of what they are pleased
to call species.

However, I cannot agree with all my friend Stearns writes under
the head of “ Variability and Uniformity,” when he says: ‘‘ Those.
species which have the widest distribution exhibit the greatest
diversity and vice versa. Those which ‘are confined, restricted to,
or occupy limited areas exhibit little if any variation.”

“The latter often show a remarkable persistency, and adhere
with most rigid tenacity to a single aspect of color and form.”’

“ Nevertheless there are exceptions to this, for uniformity and
wide distribution are sometimes exhibited.”’

I formerly held the opinions on variation expressed above, and ~
they seem to be the general opinion of most of those who write
upon this subject, but my experience as a collector of American
shells does not confirm them.

From observations made in the field the past twenty years, and
the study of accumulated data, collected and selected for the special
purpose of investigating and illustrating these very points, I find
the tendency to vary to be the general condition, and rigidity the
exception among this class of animals, whether the species has a
wide geographical range or is limited to restricted areas. Gen-

erally, and I may say invariably, where we find the most vigorous

colonies and the largest number of individuals, there we also find

the greatest diversity, but we sometimes find almost the extremes

of variation known to a species in localities where individuals are.

230 Variation in Shells. [ ZOE

extremely scarce, so scarce that the researches of the collector would
not be rewarded by twenty-five specimens in a whole day’s search.

“Facts are stubborn things.” I now offer measurements with
notes on sculpture and color variations of some of our West Coast
land shells restricted to limited areas, and collected by myself,
which will, I think, confirm my opinion that species restricted to
limited areas often exhibit great variation.

felix intercisa Binney.—San Clemente Island, California. This
species, by its sculpturing and form, stands at the head of a small
group of shells restricted in their range to the islands off the coast
of California. In its wanderings among this group of islands it has
become somewhat modified in its sculpturing, form and color, and
on these modifications conchologists have made two other species
which we know as Helix Ayresiana Newc., and Helix 7) ryonit Newc.
I may also add here that this group of shells is very closely con-
nected through varieties of H. Ayresiana with the form we know
as f7. Traskii, and was perhaps evolved from the group of 17. fidelis
through H. Traskit.

Measurements of Helix intercisa, restricted to the Island of San
Clemente. Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 27 mm.,; altitude,
18 mm.

Var. minor. Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 18 mm.; al-
titude, 11 mm. Uniform light-yellowish chestnut color, with and
without a band, and varies very much in form and elevation or
depression of spire.

Var. elegans. Uniform ashy-buff color, faintly banded and vari-
able in form.

‘Var. nepos. Uniform ashen-white; spire horn color, variable in
_ form and sculpturing.

Var. albida. Uniform milk-white, sometimes with a faint band
at the periphery; sculpture nearly obsolete.

Helix Ayresiana Newc., San Miguel Island.

In sculpturing this shell stands next to HY. intercisa in the group.
The revolving lines are less crowded and more regular in their
arrangement, while the transverse striz or lines of growth are some-
_ what rib-like on the body whorl. The umbilicus js open or half-
covered, while in Helix intercisa it is sealed up.

Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 28 mm. ; altitude, 13 mm.

Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 17 mm.; altitude, 13 mm.

VOL. I. | Variation in Shells. 331

Color, ashen buff or grayish, with a broad or narrow band, fre-
quently bandless.

Helix Ayresiana, var. Santa Cruz Island.

Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 30 mm.; altitude, 17 mm.

Smallest spécimen: greatest diameter, 17 mm.; altitude, 1o mm.

This variety is of a uniform light chestnut color, with closer and
finer sculpturing then the typical or San Miguel Island specimens.
The form is generally more depressed and approaches Hf. Traskit.

Helix Tryonii Newc. Santa Barbara Island.

By its sculpturing, as well as its general form, this shell is closely
connected to J. intercisa, but is quite different in its pattern of

coloring, and is generally a coarser and heavier shell. The re-

volving lines so prominent in /. intercisa and H. Ayresiana are
nearly obsolete in H. Zryonii, but they can be easily traced bya
common pocket lens. By its coloring the shell is divided into two
zones, the upper one being variously clouded with blotches of
chestnut on a ground of dirty white. Below it is generally uniform
in its dirty white color, but uniform cream and milk white individ-
uals also occur. The young are more acutely carinated at the peri-
phery than the young of either H. intercisa or H. Ayresiana, but
the angle dies out on the body whorl as it approaches maturity.

The columella portion of the peristone in fully adult specimens
very often has an obtuse tooth-like callosity, which also occurs in
adult specimens of . zztercisa.

Largest specimen. greatest diameter, 26 mm. ; altitude, 25 mm.;

Smallest elevated specimen: greatest diameter, 20 mm. ; altitude,
18 mm.

Smallest depressed specimen: greatest diameter, 20 mm.; alti-
tude, 15 mm.

The following varieties indicate its different patterns of coloring
and are arranged to show a connected series from the darkest col-
ored to the milk-white albinos.

Var. varius. The upper or dark zone is of a lighter shade of
bluish brown or chestnut than the preceding, and is flecked and
sprinkled with ashen white; band at the periphery, dirty white be-
neath.

Var. nebulosa. Lighter colored above than var. varius, marbled
and clouded with various patterns of dark brown and dirty white ;
dirty white beneath. &

meee Y: Variation in Shells. [ ZOE

Var. fasciata. Uniform light chocolate above and beneath, with
a dark band at the periphery. :

Var. Californica. Creamy buff color, darker above than below
the periphery, very faintly banded.

Var. albida. Uniform creamy, and sometimes milk white above
and beneath, and without band.

Helix Tryonit var. subcarinata Hemphill. Among the sub-fossils
that occur on Santa Barbara Island we find a form of . 7} ryontt,
which adds an interesting link to its history and to its present form,
maybe characterized as follows:

Shell depressed-globose, consisting of about 5% whorls, the last
subcarinated at the periphery; in other respects it closely resembles
the recent form of A. Tryonii.

Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 23 mm.; altitude, 15 mm.

Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 20 mm. ; altitude, 11 mm.

The occurrence of this subcarinated form on this small island
seems to indicate that species restricted to limited areas do vary
very much.

flelix ruficincta Newc. Santa Catalina Island. I unite with this
shell A. Gabbi Newc. and H. Jacta Newc. The only differences
between the three shells, so far as I can see,arethese: A. ruficincta
is larger than either of the other two; it has an open umbilicus, and
very fine crowded microscopic revolving lines. FH. Gabdi is sub-
perforate, and has a finely-granulated surface, while H. Jacta has a
closed umbilicus. | In size the smallest rujicincta cannot be separated
from the largest facta or Gabbi. In all other respects the shells
agree. :

Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 21 mm.; altitude, 15 mm.

Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 15 mm.; altitude, 8 mm.

Very constant in coloring; but white albinos, with narrow chest-
_ hut bands, occasionally occur, which are rare.

Felix ruficincta var. Gabbi Newe. San Clemente Island.
Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 14 mm.; altitude, 10 mm.
Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 7 mm.; altitude, 4 mm.
Rigid in its coloring, but very variable in size.

Var. facta Newc. Santa Barbara Island.
Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 11 mm.; altitude,8 mm.
Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 9 mm.; altitude, 5 mm.
The lot collected shows a great deal of variation in the elevation

VOL. 1. | Variation in Shells. 333

and depression of the spire; color is rigid, but the band is frequently
absent.
Helix KellettiFbs. Santa Catalina Island.
This species has a greater geographical range than the preceding,
including Helix Stearnsiana Gabb, as a variety.
I refer all the specimens I have collected on the main land from
San Diego south to the variety 7. Stearnsiana. .
The following measurements and color varieties refer to the
typical form which is restricted to Santa Catalina Island, and repre-
sents the varying conditions and character of an isolated island
‘colony.

Judging by the texture and the characters and form of the shell,
it seems to have evolved from the Wickliniana- Californiensts group.
Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 30 mm.; altitude, 23 mm.

Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 22 mm. ; altitude, 16 mm.

A.— Var. castaneus., Uniform, plain; somewhat shining chestnut
color, dirty white around the umbilical region, and a poorly defined
whitish band at the periphery.

Var. nitidus. Uniform, translucent, shining darie horn color, with
a poorly defined dark band, coalescing with a poorly defined
whitish band below it, at the periphery ; spire faintly flecked with
ashen gray.

Var. multilineatus. Shell marked by alternate shades of ashen
white, chestnut or brown, arranged in an irregular series of revolv-
ing and sometimes wavy lines, with a broader and poorly defined
band at the periphery ; markings finer beneath than above.

Var. frater. Shell of a beautiful uniform horn-buff color, some-
times fading into lighter horn-color, with a darker band at the peri-
phery, and numerous faint, alternate revolving lines of ashen and
dark-horn color above and below; generally, not always, lighter
colored beneath, and sometimes with a whitish zone beneath the
band at the periphery.

Var. Californica. The shell is colored with a darker shade of
uniform buff than the above, dark band at the periphery, generally
uniform in coloring above and below ; sometimes flecked with
squarish dots. |

Var. Forbesit. Ground coloring whitish buff, with a revolving
series of poorly defined and coalescing lines, bands and blotches.

334 Variation in Shells. [ ZOE

Var. bicolor. Color very dark horn or brownish, flecked with
numerous revolving very fine dots or irregular lines, with or with-
out a very faint band at the periphery.

Var. tricolor. Irregularly painted with numerous revolving,
whitish, brownish and chestnut flecks, blotches and stains, with and
without a band at the periphery.

Var. albida. Shell of a beautiful translucent milk white, with-
out stain or blotch.

Var. albida a. Milk white ground color, very faintly stained
with light horn, and with poorly defined and fading lines.

Flelix Kelletti var. redimita Binney. San Clemente Island.

I call this a variety of A Kelletti on account of the similarity in
the form and sculpture of the two shells. Mr. Binney, however,
calls it a variety of A. inéercisa. I believe he bases his opinion on
the dentition and genitalia.

Color, reddish brown. It is restricted in its range to San Cle-
mente Island. .

Largest specimen: greatest diameter, 25 mm.; altitude, 20 mm.

‘Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 16 mm.; altitude, 11 mm.

Colored varieties of H. redimita.

B.— Var. casfaneus. Uniform polished chestnut color, darker
band at the periphery, spire sprinkled with fine ashen specks.

Var. hybérida. Uniform ash-white color, anda datk band at the
periphery, flecked with transverse markings and specks of dark
brown and light chestnut.

This closes the list of species and varieties restricted in their
geographical range to the islands. I now add the measurements of
two species inhabiting the main land and restricted in their distribu-
tion to the immediate vicinity of Monterey, California :

Flelix Dupetithouarsi Desh.

Largest elevated specimen : greatest diameter, 27 mm.; altitude,
20 mm.

Largest depressed specimen: greatest diameter, 27 mm.; altitude,
15 mm.

Sinallest Specimen : greatest diameter, 19 mm.; altitude, 12 mm.
Rigid in its dark chestnut coloring, but the band is sometimes ab-
sent, and in its place a broad fulvus zone encircles the shell at the

periphery. One of the most variable of our Californian shells in
size. |

VOL. I. | Variation in Shells. : 335

| Helix Californiensts Lea.

Largest specimen : greatest diameter, 25 mm.; altitude, 28 mm.

Smallest specimen: greatest diameter, 16 mm.; altitude, 19 mm.

Color rigid, band frequently absent.

I might continue this list almost indefinitely by showing that
colonies of widely-distributed species existing in the very metropo-
lis often exhibit the extremes of variation known to it, but enough
has already been given to show that variation has no geographical
bounds, and that the causes of this phenomenon of nature are active
in limited as well as in extended areas.

I will now briefly allude to another point closely connected with
the study of variation. The origin of some of our largest groups of
land snails seems to be a mystery to some of the writers upon our
conchology, and more especially the group found in California, which
they are pleased to call “Arionta.” The history and origin of that
group of shells, as I have traced it from the north, is as plain to me
as a well-worn road at midday.

The northern portion of the Rocky Mountains, so far as I have
been able to trace, seems to be the region that has sent out colonies
of shells, which have spread over nearly the entire country to the
south, east and west; and there exist to-day, in the mountains of
Idaho and Montana, active and vigorous colonies of shells that seem
to me to be the progenitors of our present shell fauna, or at least of
the larger part of it.

Among these Helix Townsendiana var. ptycophorus Brown, is the
form from which have evolved the two groups we know as Mesodon
on the eastern slope, and the group we call “Arionta,’’ on the
western slope. This shell is quite variable in size and coloring in
its metropolis, and in its travels southward it assumes a slightly
modified form, color and sculpturing, as new conditions require.

In the moist and heavy timbered regions of Oregon it becomes
larger and more strongly wrinkled in sculpture, and is known as
Helix Townsendiana Lea. When this reaches its southern limit
near Humboldt Bay, California, it has again become somewhat
modified in form, and is then known as /7. arrosa Gld. _Continu-
ing its march southward it eventually reaches Sonoma and Marin
counties, and here, under the influence of climatic and geological
changes, it branches out and sends off colonies in several directions,
_ which we know under the following names:

336 Variation in Shells. [ZOE

Var. cypreaphila Newc.
Var. ramentosa Gld.
‘Var. exarata Pfr.

Var. Nickliniana Lea.

I have these forms so closely connected with H. arrosa that no
doubt can exist as to their relations.

Var. cypreaphila, passes to the eastward and occupies the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and evolves in turn the darker
and more wrinkled form known as H. /udicu/ata Binney, which in
turn sends off numerous varieties into the adjacent mountains, and
at San Diego completely seals up its umbilicus, while the mountain
colonies keep their umbilicus open or only partially closed.

Var. ramentosa, var. exarata and var. Nickliniana, have spread
over the Coast Range as far south as Monterey Bay, which is
also the southern limit, so far as we know at present, of the typical
fT. arrosa. In this small area, however; these forms have sent
out almost innumerable varieties, and all have become _inter-
woven like a piece of lace-work. On the south side of Monterey
Bay an extremely elevated form of var. Wickliniana appears, which
we know under the name of A. Californiensis; and, unfortunately,
this form was the first one described of this group, and we are com-
pelled to observe the unnatural arrangement of grouping the other
members around it. Var. Nickliniana, does not appear to the south-
ward again on the mainland, but it has been transplanted in some
way onto Santa Catalina Island, where it has become thoroughly
established, though somewhat changed in form and very variable in
coloring, and is known to conchologists as H. Kelletti, On the
mainland south of Santa Catalina Island the form again becomes
slightly modified, and passes under the name of var. Stearnsiana.
If the shells themselves are a guide or an index to their relations,

I have this record so complete that but little doubt can exist as to
its truth.

In closing, I may add that my impressions: are variation is in-
herent in matter, the primary cause being chemical action or affi-
nity.

The conditions of the environment, such as food, heat, light,
air and moisture, etc., act as aids or checks to the primary cause.

_ Perhaps imperfect fertilization of the ovaries, through what we
call close blood relatives, and. chemical changes IO: the vital

VOL. 1. | Distribution of Land Birds. ~ 337

fluids, and defective working or modification of the secretory
organs, together with the conditions to which the eggs are sub-
jected during incubation, are more fruitful sources of variation in
‘this class of animals than any other, for the perfection, vigor and
strength imparted to the offspring must be powerful factors in the
matter, and it is not necessary to look far to find these conditions,
for old mother nature has stamped upon every particle of matter,
the legend—change.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE X.

Figs. 1—2. Anodonta angulata var. subangulata.
Figs. 3—4. A. Nuttalliana var. Idahoensis.
Figs. 5—6. A. angulata.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF LAND BIRDS IN
CALIFORNIA.

BY CHARLES A. KEELER.

IV. THE ISLAND. FAUNA.

Having now, in a general way, considered every faunal area of
the State, no region still remains to claim our attention, except the
Coast Islands. Peculiar interest is always attached to the dis-
tribution of life on islands, and our California groups form no
exception. There are but two island groups worthy of considera-
tion, the Santa Barbara Islands and the Farallones. The latter
situated directly opposite San Francisco harbor about thirty-five
miles from the coast, consists of three small rocky islands, the
largest not over a mile in length, and the number of land birds
resident upon it is, of course, reduced to a minimum; but the
former group comprises seven islands of considerable size, the
nearest being about twenty miles off the coast, and the whole
group lying between thirty-two and thirty-four degrees north lati-
tude. Itis this Santa Barbara group which is of especial interest
in relation to the geographical distribution of life. Prof. Joseph Le
Conte has published * a very interesting discussion concerning the
distribution of plant life upon these islands, which has a direct
bearing upon the distribution of bird life. In the first place, as he

* See Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., v, p- 152, 1873-

ee Distribution of Land Birds. [ZOE

has pointed out, the islands formed a part of the mainland at the
beginning of the Quaternary Epoch. This has been proved in
various ways, particularly by the discovery of mammoth remains
on one of them, indicating that the separation must have occurred
during or just previous to the glacial period ; showing, in fact, as
Prof. Le Conte has said, that these islands are all that remains of
what once constituted the Coast Range, the intermediate land hav-
ing been lost by subsidence. In pre-glacial times all California, ap-
parently, was inhabited by forms from the Sonoran Province, which
were isolated upon these islands at the time of subsidence, and
thus kept distinct from the northern horde driven south by the ice,
which spread over all other parts of the State. Isolation would
thus, to a considerable degree, tend to preserve these pre-glacial
forms to the present day, as to a vastly greater degree it has pre-
served the primitive forms of Madagascar. The botanical basis for
this theory is as follows: The flora of these islands consists largely

of peculiarly Californian species, together with a considerable num-
_ ber of endemic forms, and is characterized by the absence of north-
ern and eastern species found on the mainland.

The most conspicuous feature of the flora is its distinctively south-
ern character, as compared with the adjacent coast. Since Prof.
Le Conte’s paper was written, the flora of the islands has been more
fully and carefully examined, and Mr. T. S. Brandegee has shown *
that the number of species peculiar to the islands is much less than
was formerly supposed. This, however, does not in any way alter
Prof. Le Conte’s theory, but merely shows that the isolation has not
been sufficiently long continued, or sufficiently complete perhaps, to.
produce the degree of differentiation at first ascribed to them. Mr.
Brandegee has also called attention to the fact that the tempera-
ture of the islands is higher than that of the adjacent coast}, which
would be another factor in accounting for the presence of southern
forms. This much at least remains, that the flora of the islands is
southern in character, and possesses certain peculiar features; more-
over, that it has not to as great a degree that admixture of northern —
forms characteristic of the mainland floras. All these facts are in
complete accord with the theory that the present flora is the rem-

nant of an earlier and more widely distributed one which has been
preserved by isolation.

i

* Zoe, i, p. 129. t Zoe, i, p. 109,

VOL. I. | Distribution of Land Birds. 339

It will now be of interest to see whether or not the distribution of
bird life upon the islands can be explained in the same manner. First,
in order to have a foundation to work upon, it will be well to give
as complete lists as possible of the birds of the different islands.
These lists have been compiled from the following articles: Descrip-
tion of a New Jay from California,| by H. W. Henshaw; Summer
Birds of Santa Cruz Island,? by Eli Whitney Blake, Jr.; Notes on
the Birds of Santa Barbara Islands,* by Clark P. Streator; and
Birds from the Coasts of Western North America and Adjacent
Islands, Collected in 1888-89, with Description of New Species,’
by Chas. H. Townsend. Such species as are obviously migratory,
or probably so when no summer record appears, have been omitted:

SANTA CRUZ ISLAND.

Zenaidura macroura. Sturnella magna neglecta.
Halizetus leucocephalus. Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis.°
Ceryle alcyon. Spizella socialis arizone.
Colaptes cafer (?). Melospiza fasciata samuelis.
Trochilus rufus. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx.
Sayornis nigricans. _ Chelidon erythrogaster.
Empidonax difficilis. Lanius ludovicianus gambeli.’
Otocoris alpestris strigata.° Helminthophila celata lutescens(?)°
Aphelocoma insularis. Thryothorus bewickii bairdi.
Corvus corax sinuatus. Salpinctes obsoletus.

SANTA BARBARA ISLAND.
Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. Melospiza fasciata samuelis (?).’
SANTA ROSA ISLAND.

Otocoris alpestris strigata." Pipilo maculatus megalonyx.
Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. Helminthophila celata lutescens(?)?

Melospiza fasciata samuelis (?)."

. Auk, iii, 4, pp. 452-453-
Auk, iv, 4+. PP- 328-330. ¥
3 Ornithologist and Odlogist, xi, 4, PP- 52-54-
4 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., xiii, pp. 131-142.
5 Recorded as O. alpestris rubea by Henshaw.
6 Recorded as C. frontalis rhodocolpus by Blake.
-? Recorded as L. ludovicianus excubitorides by Blake.
8 Recorded as H. celata sordida by Townsend.
® Recorded as M. fasciata graminea by Townsend.
1 Recorded as O. alpestris insularis by Townsend.
1 Recorded as M. fasciata clement by Townsend. —

>

340 Distribution of Land Birds. [ ZOE

SAN MIGUEL ISLAND.

Halizeetus leucocephalus. Sturnella magna neglecta.
Falco mexicanus. | Clivicola riparia.
Otocoris alpestris strigata.' Salpinctes obsoletus.

Corvus corax sinuatus.

SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND.
Speotyto cunicularia hypogzea. Pipilo maculatus megalonyx.
Otocoris alpestris strigata.! Amphispiza belli.
Carpodacus mexicanus frontalis. Helminthophila celata lutescens(?*
Melospiza fasciata samuelis(?)*?, Thryothorus bewickii bairdi.

SAN NICOLAS ISLAND.

Halizeetus leucocephalus. Corvus corax sinuatus.
Speotyto cunicularia hypogeea. Scolecophagus cyanocephalus.
Sayornis nigricans. Salpinctes obsoletus.

Otocoris alpestris strigata.'

Many of the above lists are, of course, fragmentary, and conse-
quently of comparatively little value in drawing any general conclu-
sions, but I think we are perfectly safe in regarding the following
forms as characteristic of all the islands in the group: Carpodacus
mexicanus frontalis, Melospiza fasciata samuelis, Otocoris alpestris
strigata, Helminthophila celata lutescens, Salpinctes obsoletus and
Pipilo maculatus megalonyx. To this list the following may be
added with safety, it appears: Speotylo cunicularia hypog@a, Say-
ornts nigricans, Sturnella magna neglecta, Corvus corax sinuatus
and Thryothorus bewickii bairdi. The first question. to be asked is,
are these characteristic birds, like the plants of the islands, markedly
southern in character? On the contrary, in general these birds
appear to be a tolerably even mixture of northern and southern
forms. If the theory proposed in accounting for the distribution of
plants upon the islands were to hold for the birds, we ought to find
the Lower Californian race of the house finch, for example, instead
of the form typical of the entire State. More remarkable is the fact
brought to light from the collections made upon the islands by Mr.
Townsend, that the race of horned larks — which is a common resi-_

' Recorded as ©. alpestris insularis by Townsend,
_* Recorded as M, fasciata clement by Townsend,
* Recorded as H. celata sordida by Townsend. _

VOL. 1.} Distribution of Land Birds. 341

dent, apparently, of all the islands —is identical with the variety
characteristic of the coast region of Oregon and Washington.*
Surely this is a piece of evidence quite out of harmony with the
theory. To add to the difficulty of accounting for this race, so iso-
lated from its proper habitat, the Santa Cruz Islands have a warm
and dry temperature in summer, while the coast district of Oregon
and Washington is very moist. Such species of powerful flight and
wide distribution as the fish hawk, prairie falcon, American raven,
barn swallow and bank swallow, of course, should not be taken into
consideration in accounting for the distribution of birds, but aside
from these we find a very considerable percentage of birds to be
Sonoran in character. Such forms are the rock wren, Bell's finch,
burrowing owl, California shrike and Baird’s wren,
This latter bird, which was the only form of Zhkryothorus taken
on the islands by Mr. Townsend, is a Mexican and Southern United
States form, which has not been recorded, I believe, from any other
point on the coast. On the other hand, we find such forms belong-
ing to the Boreal Province as the western chipping sparrow, spurred
towhee and lutescent warbler. We see, in fact, that forms charac-
teristic of both provinces are abundant residents of the islands, and
we are led to infer that the group belongs to the Transition Region.
This, of course, implies that the islands are not so completely
isolated from the mainland, as regards the birds, as they appear to
be with reference to the plants. Let us see, now, how completely
isolated the birds are. The nearest islands of the group are not
over twenty miles from the mainland, and the most distant not over
a hundred, but with these more distant ones the nearer islands form
stepping stones to facilitate the passage of transient species. Mr.
Townsend records from Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara Islands the
golden-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia coronata ) in February, which
species is obviously a migrant there, while the western savannah
sparrow (Ammodramus sandwichensis alaudinus ), intermediate spar-
row (Zonotrichia intermedia), and Hutton’s vireo ( Vireo huttont),
which appear on Mr. Townsend’s winter list, are not recorded by
Mr. Blake as summer residents, and undoubtedly are not found there
at that season. Thus it will be seen that the nearest of these islands
are easily accessible to our sparrows, and presumably to nearly all

"See Dwight on the Horned Larks, Auk, vii, 2, p. 151-

342 Distribution of Land Birds. [ZOE

the small migratory birds; but if birds can reach the nearer islands
they would have no difficulty in passing on to the more distant ones.
In regard to the two varieties of the song sparrow and of the orange-
crowned warbler, recently described by Mr. Townsend from the
islands, it is too soon to pronounce upon their validity, although we
should hardly expect to find recognizable races of thése forms,which
it would seem are as well capable of flying from the mainland as is
the golden-crowned sparrow. Still more remarkable does it seem
that the race of the song sparrow found upon San Clemente Island
(Melospiza fasciata clemente ) should be the same as that upon
Santa Rosa, which is very near the opposite extremity of the group,
while on Santa Barbara, midway between the two, another race —
M. fasciata graminea — should occur. Should more ample material
confirm these races, it will only show that in these cases, as with the
next to be considered, the isolation has been sufficient to produce
slightly different varieties. It will be noticed that these new races
of Mr. Townsend’s are resident birds, which would account for their
distinctive features, perhaps.

In 1886 Mr. H. W. Henshaw described, in the Auk, a new species
of jay from Santa Cruz Island (Aphelocoma insularis). In Mr.
Henshaw’s own words—' the essential differences of the island bird
from californica are its larger size, deeper colors (especially of the
brown on back), and the blue under tail-coverts instead of white.”
In accounting for the origin of this insular form he says: “ Individ-
tals doubtless reached the island from the mainland, and being non-
migratory their continued residence under new conditions has ef-
fected very considerable changes of size and coloration.’’ This

theory would seem to indicate that there was a time when the islands
were destitute of an avifaun

of the mainland and were gs

glacial epoch, Woodhouse’ s, the Cali

VOL. I. ] Distribution of Land Birds. : 343

all the same species. The affinity of the island form to Wood-
house’s is shown by the blue under-tail coverts, by which both these
two are distinguished from the California jay. In fact, all three
forms seem to stand in almost perfectly parallel relations to one
another, and to have been developed from the same stock. The
most conservative estimates of the time which has elapsed since the
age of ice, based upon the rate at which Niagara Falls has worked
backward, place it at from seven to ten thousand years, which fig-
ures may perhaps give some idea of the length of time which these
species have required for assuming their present comparatively
slight differences.

To return from this digression, it appears that the theory applied
by Prof. Le Conte in accounting for the distribution of plants will
bold, tosome extent, with birds. The facts seem to indicate that
the fauna, like the flora, of the islands: was, at the time of their sub-
sidence, exclusively Sonoran in character, but that the isolation has
not been so complete with regard to the birds as with the plants;
consequently the number of peculiar species of birds is much less
than of plants. Perhaps of even greater significance in confirmation
of this theory is the fact told me by Dr. J. G. Cooper, that the shells
of the island are mostly southern forms peculiar to Lower California.
Such means of dispersal as effect the distribution of plants and birds
not being at their disposal, it seems almost certain that they are the
relics of the Sonoran fauna which once spread over the entire State.
Ocean currents could not have carried them there, certainly, for the
Japan current flows to the south.

With regard to the distribution of birds on the Farallones little
can-be said, as there is but one land-bird resident there—the rock
wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)—and the island birds are apparently
identical with the form found all over the State.* The absence of
other resident land birds is to be accounted for solely by the bar- _
renness of the rocks, which are not capable of affording food and
shelter to them. Many stray migrants reach the islands, however, —
‘some of them being species which have never been recorded from
any other locality in California. This brings us to the subject of
accidental visitants to California, which will be discussed 1 in the —
next paper. |

_ “See. Bryant on Birds and Eggs from the Farallon Islands. Proc. Cal. Atad.
Sci., 2d etadas i, p. 49.

ON REVIEW OF “STATE AND LOCAL FLORAS.”’

: CoLuMBIA COLLEGE, NEw York, January 14, 18gI.
THE Epitor oF ‘‘ Zor:’’ My Dear Sir—Enclosed please find a
communication which I should be glad to have appear in an early
issue of your journal.
Yours very truly, ee BRITTON.

ON Mrs. BRANDEGEE’s REVIEW oF My List or STATE AND
LocaL FLoras.

** Think you a little din can daunt mine ears ?
Have I not in my time heard lions roar ?
Have I not heard great ordnance in the field,
And heaven’s artillery thunder in the skies ?
And do you tell me of a woman’s tongue,
That gives not half so great a blow to the ear
As will a chestnut in a farmer’s fire ?

Tush! Tush! fear boys with bugs.”—PETRUCHIO.

The somewhat caustic review of my recent paper on ‘‘ State and
Local Floras,”’ by Mrs. Brandegee, printed in the November issue of
“Zoe,’’ necessitates a word of explanation on my part. I only wish to
say that no attempt was made to publish an index to the literature
of North American Botany as’ she appears to infer, and at least
endeavors to indicate. The idea was to admit nothing except the
titles of what could fairly be called local lists or floras. As I have
said, it was difficult to draw the line in some cases, and had the
scope of the work been slightly extended, many papers could have
been included. To criticise me for leaving out descriptive revisions
of wide-spread genera or papers containing descriptions of new spe- |
cies from wide areas, is not to criticise my work, because I never
intended to include them. The review is, therefore, illogical and
unfair,

The geography of my amiable critic is almost as bad as my
own. She evidently believes that the Yellowstone National Park
is a part of Wyoming, whereas authorities agree that it is a piece
of United States property. : :

But the review has been of service to the botanists of the country —
in a way probably not planned by the writer, for it has given us
_ further proof that the two supposed Brandegees are one, not alone

‘matrimonially but literally. For otherwise it would be exceedingly ae

State and Local Floras. 345

unlikely that my very phrase used in reviewing one of what we all
supposed to be one of Mr. Brandegee’s writings should be hurled
back at me (although in an impossible application), by Mrs. Brande-
gee. And this almost leads one to speculate on how many other
supposed individuals may be included in the same family.

N. L. BRITTON.

And so our friend the editor of Zhe Torrey Bulletin was a war-
rior aforetime, and no doubt bore back honorable wounds from
many a bloody field. We congratulate him on his heroic deeds
and the continuance of |

‘* The stern joy which warriors feel
In foemen worthy of their steel.”

In regard to the grave accusations brought against Mrs. Brande-
gee we are constrained to admit that they are too true. She is a
woman, but pleads in extenuation of the damning fact, that she was
in no way consulted about the matter. We are under the impression
that among gentlemen the argumentum ad hominem is.considered
to be extremely bad form, the argumentum ad mulierem is how-
ever apparently admissible.

The explanation ‘‘ that descriptive revisions of wide-spread —
or papers containing descriptions of new species from wide areas’
were not intended to be included, is perfectly satisfactory to us, but —
the feminine mind, as our old friend remarks, is illogical and unfair,
and in spite of, our best efforts we have been unable to convince
Mrs. Brandegee that such papers as “ No. 591, Catalogue of Plants
Collected in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona
* * gto. pp. 404, 30 plates;’’ ‘‘No. 531, Descriptions of New
Species and Genera of Plants in the Natural Order Composite,
Collected in a Tour Across the Continent to the Pacific, a Residence
in Oregon, and a visit to the Sandwich Islands and Upper Califor-

ia,” etc., etc., do not contain “descriptions of new species from
wide areas,” or that the account of Mimulus, ranging from the Aleu-
tian Islands to Mexico, from the swamps of New England to Guada-
lupe Islandin the Pacific Ocean, contained in ‘‘ No. 620,”’ is not as
much a descriptive revision of a widespread genus as Dr. Parry’s
Chorizanthe, Arctostaphylos or Alnus; Dr. Trelease’s Ceanothus,
- or the numerous similar papers of Dr. Gray and Dr. Watson. We
ourself were a little surprised to find that while Chapman’s Flora
- of the Southern States, Coulter’s Manual of Rocky Mountain

‘

346 Luphorbiacee of Baja California. [ZOE

Botany, Torrey’s Flora of the Northern United States, and even
Hooker’s Flora Boreali-Americana which embraces a region far
larger than the United States, extending from Newfoundland to the >
Pacific and from the Arctic to Northern California, were included ©
among ‘‘ Local Floras,’’ all mention of even the earlier editions ot .
Gray’s Manual was omitted. i

We will endeavor to bring Mrs. Brandegee’s mind to a proper -
understanding of the great truths of geography, instructing her on
the authority of our learned friend that National Parks, Indian and
military reservations, etc., are not to be classed with the States and
Territories to which they are geographically allied, but must form
part of an agglomeration labeled “ Pieces of United States prop-
erty.”

We will also exert our authority to prevent her in the future from
“hurling back ” (at the risk of breaking) any of our friend’s phrases
upon which he may have filed a caveat.

Itis perfectly natural for our friend to feel that there cannot be
on the Pacific Coast of North America more than one person with

such exceedingly bad taste as to dissent from any of his views, but
a due regard for the truth compels us to admit that there are
several.

We beg the learned editor to allow us to pass out of the shadow ©
of his wrath, and receive our. humble apology with the assurance
that the gentle rebuke administered to Mrs. Brandegee has in no
way diminished our regard for him.

.
a

EUPHORBIACEE COLLECTED BY T s. BRANDEGEE
PRINCIPALLY IN THE VICINITY OF TODOS SAN-
TOS, BAJA CALIFORNIA, JANUARY AND FEBRU-
ARY, 18go.

BY: G. -s. MILLSPAUGH.

PHYLLANTHUS (Eméblica) POLYGONOIDES Spreng. (Syst. veg.
3, P- 23). Sierra de la Laguna, January 23.
PHYLLANTHUS sp. —=— Sierra de la Laguna, January 21.
PHYLLANTHUS ( Menarda) CILIATO-GLANDULosUs Millsp. (Proc.
Cal. Acad., Ser. 2, vol. li, 219.) Todos Santos, January 19.
ACALYPHA sp. Sierra de la Laguna, January 26.
Todos Santos, January 29. La Paz, F ebruary 4. Too young.

VOL I. ] Euphorbiacee of Baja California. 347

BERNARDIA MYRICAFOLIA (Scheele) S. Watson (Bot. Cal., ii,
70). Sierra de la Laguna, January 27.

Tracia (Eutragia) NEPETEHFOLIA Muell. .(D. C. Prod., pars.
15, 2, p. 933.) Todos Santos, January 20.

EuPHORBIA ( Antsophyllum ) BISERRATA sp. nov. Root.? Branches
smooth, irregular, with short internodes. Leaves short-petioled,
broadly ovate to reniform, cordate at the unequal base; obtuse,
margin hyaline, sharply and deeply serrate, the larger often doubly
serrate. Stipules deltoid, laciniate. Inflorescence solitary in the
axils of the crowded upper leaves; involucres short-pedicelled, cam-
panulate; lobes triangular, with a prolonged apex, entire; glands
transversely reniform, dark red; appendages white, broadly ovate,
their margin crenate-dentate. Stigmas bifid nearly to the point of
juncture. Capsules smooth, strongly recurved upon their pedicels,
carpels obtusely keeled; seed ovate, obtusely angled, salmon color,
with shallow irregular anastomosing ridges marking the facets.

Branches (as collected) 16-24 cm.; internodes %-1%4 cm.; peti-
oles 2-4 mm.; leaves 5-12 mm. long, 6-15 mm. broad; seed 134 mm.
long, 1 mm. broad. Rancho Tomate, January 18.

EUPHORBIA POLYCARPA Benth. (Bot. Sulph., 50.) La Paz, Feb-
ruary 4.

EUPHORBIA VERSICOLOR Greene. Todos Santos, January 28.
Todos Santos—La Paz, February 1.

EvuPHORBIA HYPERICIFOLIA Linn. (Hort. Cliff, 198.) Todos
Santos, January 29.

Eupuorsia ( Zygophyllidium ) BIBLOBATA Engelm. (Mex. Bound.,
ii, 190.) Sierra de la Laguna, January 23.

EupHorsia (Alectoroctonum) WaTsONt sp. nov. Frutescent;
branches articulate, internodes irregular; bark gray, striate. Peti-
oles short, very slightly puberulent; leaves oblong - oblique at the

= slightly cordate base; acute or emarginate; stipules where eviden

triangular glanduliform with a slightly ciliate margin. Inflorescence
on the young branchlets, and solitary in the axils of the leaves; in-

AD Saliere turbinate, smooth, on long recurved pedicels; lobes trian-
gular ciliate; glands brownish, transversely oblong; appendages

white, broadly ovate, entire; stigmas erect, bifurcate to the middle;
capsule smooth, carpels obtusely carinate; seeds ovate, pointed, ob
tusely angled, facets very slightly roughened longitudinally by very
short interrupted ridges. :

348 feecent Literature. [zon =

Branches 2-3 dm. long (as collected); petioles 1 mm. long; leaves
3-8 mm. long, 2-4 mm. broad; capsule 2 mm. long, 214 mm. broad.
Todos Santos, January 20, January 29. Named in recognition of
the numerous species Prof. Sereno Watson has worked over so
carefully and thoroughly in this genus from Northern Mexico.

' EupHorsia XantI Engelm. (in litt.) La Paz, January 5.

[ EupHorsia ( T7richerostigma) HINDsIANA Benth. (Bot. Sulph.,
51.) The mark of doubt placed after this species (collected on Mag-
dalena Island, in 1889, by Mr. Brandegee) in Proc. Cal. Acad., Ser.
_ 2, vol. ii, 229, should be removed.]

EUPHORBIA CALIFORNICA Benth. (Bot. Sulph.. 49), var.? Todos
Santos, January. ‘

EupHorsi (Poinsettia) HETEROPHYLLA Linn. var. ERIOCARPA
Millsp. (Proc. Cal. Acad., Ser. 2, vol. ii, 230.) Sierra de la La-
guna, January 26.

RECENT LITERATURE.

Inthe January Auk notice is given of the Biological Survey
which is now at work in Inyo County, Cal., in charge of Mr. T. S.
Palmer, under the direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of the
Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy of the U. S.
Department of Agriculture.

The party comprises the most thoroughly equipped and largest
scientific staff that has ever been placed in the field in this country.
Notices of the ‘Death Valley Expedition’’ have appeared from
time to time in the local press, and in some instances accompanied
by illustrations. One article* tells us that ‘‘ Death Valley is so
called because of death and despair it is the very abode, the like of
which is not to be found elsewhere in the world. Imagine a narrow
strip of arid plain shut in between two mighty mountain walls, the
peaks stretching up 10,000 feet into the burning sky. * * * *
The surface of this plain is composed of salt and alkali * * *

through which the animal you ride breaks up to his knees intoa |

thick alkali paste which eats both hair and hide. * * * But the
_ Supreme horror of the place is the heat, which is unspeakable.

* * Into this natural furnace the sun pours its rays, with never “oe he

* Washington Star.

VOL. I. | Recent Literature. 349

cloud interrupting, from one year’s end to another. When the
famous geologist, Prof. Gilbert, succeeded in crossing the valley,
nearly twenty years ago, barely escaping death from thirst, the
_ thermometer inside his saddle bag went up to 130 degrees and
then burst. * * * Hundreds of people have lost their lives in
Death Valley through starting off in the morning without knowing
where they were going to find water at night. There will be no
such foolishness as that indulged in by the expedition. With every
precaution a sufficient amount of suffering will of necessity have to
be undergone. Water is the great desideratum in that horrible
place. * * * So rapid is this evaporation of the bodily moist-
ure that three gallons of water a day are absolutely necessary for
each individual. * * *” (Sic.) After reading columns of
articles from week to week, of which the above is an extract, we can
fairly imagine ourselves with Caliph Vathek as he journeyed to
and into the Hall of Eblis.* ‘A deathlike stillness reigned over
the mountain and through the air. * * * In the midst of this
immense hall a vast multitude was incessantly passing. * * *
They had all the livid paleness of death. Their eyes deep sunk
in their sockets, resembled those phosphoric meteors that glimmer
by night in places of interment. * * * Some, shrieking with
agony, ran furiously about * * * whilst others, grinding their
teeth in rage, foamed along more frantic than the wildest maniac.
They all avoided each other * * * as if alone on a desert
where no foot had trodden. * * * A funereal gloom prevailed
over the whole scene.’’ The friends and relatives of the adventurous
scientists who may have seen the articles alluded to must feel more
than uneasy regarding the fate of some or all of these intrepid
explorers, who in the ‘‘cause of science” undertake to cross
fifteen miles or less of dry waste land, but to Californians, some of
whom have been there before, it is all very amusing and in some
lights perfectly ridiculous. For the benefit of the anxious ones
a few extracts are here given from the latest published articles on
- Death Valley. A reaction has evidently set in and it will be some
months before the true facts are knowu. It may be some consola-
tion, however, to hear what Mr. William B. Robertson says of the

*Willam Beckford.

- 350 Recent Literature. [ZOE

region.* ‘Most of the articles about Death Valley which I have
seen lately are gross exaggerations. There is a strange disposition
among prospectors in that country to make Death Valley a more
terrible place than it is and a terra incognita, and so make heroes

of themselves. In fact, every part of Death Valley has been
thoroughly explored. Travel through it is dangerous in the sum-
mer, but in the fall, winter and spring it may be traveled as safely
as any desert region, * * * The climate during part of the
year is as pleasant as in San Francisco. During the fall, winter and
spring it is about the climate of the San Joaquin Valley. The days
are not hot and the nights are seldom extremely cold. I have
known it to snow in winter and have seen ice an eighth of an inch
thick formed during the night. * * * The weather is extremely
hot between the middle of May and the middle of September.
* %* | have heard stories of prospectors perishing, but have no
direct knowledge of any instances, though many have died on the ~
Mojave desert.’’

Mr. C. W. Craig also writes ¢ a cheerful account of Death Valley,
and thanks are due him for lightening the load of care and mis-
representation under which the public have labored since the first

~ news of the proposed exploration. He says: “ To one who knows
the locality of springs in the surrounding hills there is no difficulty
in going from one to another, and there is no portion of Death
Valley that cannot be safely crossed by a man on foot with an
ordinary canteen of water. The greatest danger to be encountered
in the desert waste is from dry bogs, appearing like ashes, but in
reality composed of alkali, dry salt, soda and borax. In thesea
man. or animal will sink as in quicksand ; they lie in spots and may
be readily avoided. The published tales of extreme and suffocating
heat are largely without foundation in fact. In the winter water is
plentiful, and the greatest drawback to a prospector is that he must

_charter an extra burro to carry blankets sufficient to keep him from
freezing during the night.” W. E. B.

Notes on Collections of Mammals made in Central and Southern
Mexico by Dr. Audley C. Buller, with Descriptions of New Species _
of the Genera Vespertilio, Sciurus and Lepus. By J. A. ALLEN.

*San Francisco Chronicle, January 25, 1891.
tSan Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 23, 1891. _

-

VOL. I.] Recent Literature. 351

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iii, 1, 175-194. The new species de-
scribed are Vesfertilio velifer, Sciurus cervicalis, Lepus sylvaticus
aztecus, 1. insolitus, and L. truet. W. E: B.

Descriptions of a New Species and a New Subspecies of the Genus
Lepus. By J. A. ALLEN. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., iii, 1, 159,
160. Lepus cinerascens is described from one specimen from San
Fernando, Los Angeles County, California, and Lepus sylvaticus
floridanus from Florida. Wot =

List of Mammals Collected by Mr. Clark P. Streator in British
Columbia, with Descriptions of Two New Subspecies of Sciurus.
By J. A. ALLEN. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., ii, 1, 161-168. An
annotated list of 20 species (140 specimens), with descriptions of
Sciurus hudsontus vancouverensis from Vancouver Island, and S. A.
californicus from Placer County, California. W: es.

Notes on a Small Collection of West Indian Bats, with Description
of an Apparently New Species. By J. A. ALLEN. Bull. Am. Mus.
Nat. Hist., iii, 1, 169-173. One specimen Artibeus coryt from St.
Andrew’s Island. W. E. B.

Grevillea, December, 1890, contains, besides the usual number
of new species, to which there seems no end, a continuation of
British Thelephorei and of British Pyrenomycetes. Two new
genera are proposed, one “ Sclerodepsis’’ Cooke, for certain species
of Trametes, in which the edge of the pileus and the dissepiments of
the pores are acute; the other ‘‘ Chainoderma”’ Mass. for an Aus-
tralian species heretofore considered to belong to Secotium. By
far the most interesting paper contained in the number is ‘‘ Contro-
verted Agarics,” a paper read before the Woolhope Naturalists’
Field Club, in which Mr. Cooke discusses certain points which have
been raised concerning the validity of a goodly number of the
species of Agaricini figured in his illustrations of British Fungi.
With a frankness which does him the more credit, because it was

somewhat unexpected, the author admits many of these errors, and

even points out others, a proceeding which will make him many friends

and go far to disarm his critics. The revision of the Handbook of

British Fungi which has been for some time publishing as a_
supplement in Grevillea, has reached the end of the first volume, |

the index will follow soon. Bn. WOH.

PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES.

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. /anuary 5, 18971. President Harkness
in the chair.

The Report of the Board of Trustees was read by Charles F. Crocker. It sum-
marized the acts of that body for the year, and stated that at this date $268, 862.29
had been expended in the construction of the Society’s new building.

The report of the treasurer was read by I. E. Thayer, and the report of the libra-
rian by Carlos Troyer.

The director of the museum not being present his report was deferred till the

next meeting. .

Walter E. Bryant, Curator of Ornithology, read the report of his department.

Mrs. Eigenmann read the report of the Ichthyological department.

President Harkness read his annual report, giving a summary of the work car-
ried on in the various branches of science, and congratulating the Society upon the
fact that their building had reached such a degree of completeness as admitted of a
meeting being held in their own hall.

The report of the election committee was read by Charles Stephens. 96 votes
were cast, as follows:

President—H. W. Harkness, . ; A ‘ : . 87
Ist Vice President—H.H. Behr, . ye . : : go
2nd Vice President—George Hewston, . é ; : 88
Corresponding Secretary—F. Gutzkow, . ‘ ‘ . 93
Recording Secretary—J. R.Scupham, . ; ‘ : 92
Treasurer—L. H. Foote, 3 : : ‘ ; go
Librarian—Carlos Troyer, : ‘ : ‘ : Oe
Director of Museum—J. G. Cooper, ; : ‘ : 87
Trustees— .
Charles F, Crocker, 4 : : : ; ‘ ‘ 93
D3, Bayes. : : ; ; : ‘ . 95
W. C. Burnett, : : < j : : a . 04
George C. Perkins, ‘ . ‘ : i : : 95
E. J. Molera, . r ‘ - , : - roe 95
Irving M. Scott, . é ‘ . : . : S 95
John Taylor, .. é P ‘ ‘ more . ‘: 95

For the Amendment, 69.
Against the Amendment, 25.

The scattering vote, amounting to 19, was called for, and read by Mr. Stephens.

PLATE ZX.

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WALLACE ON PHYSIOLOGICAL
By GEO. J. ROMANES, LL. D., 4