Both separate again soon into a number of smaller branches, which end in amphitheaters near the crest. There is not space here to dwell in detail on the remarkable features of this region. The student will find here the most wonderful examples of erosion, and an almost unlimited view of varied glacial phenomena; the lover of sport can find abundant trout fishing in the lakes and various kinds of game in the mountains; the invalid, pure air and water, so that at no distant period the region about Twin lakes must become a famous resort for seekers after health and pleasure.

Teocalli mountain.-On the west side of the Main or Wasatch range, in a nearly direct line from the Twin lakes, is a mountain peak of very singular but interesting appearance. This peak forms the subject of our second illustration. The name was given this peak by the Survey on account of its resemblance to the celebrated sacrificial mound of Mexico. The mass of rock seems to have been elevated by forces acting in a vertical manner so that the strata are nearly or quite horizontal, yet its summit is 13,131 feet above sea level. The peculiar form is pyramidal and the strata of various colored sandstone and clays are so arranged as to form a series of steps from base to summit. The texture of the rocks is quite varied, from a fine sandstone or quartzite to a conglomerate interlaid with thin seams of clay, which is weathered out so as to permit the harder beds to project out like steps. There is an enormous thickness of these variegated beds, and while a great portion may be of the age of the Jura-trias, the lower portion is believed to belong to the era of the Permian, or Permo-carboniferous. From this point can be seen distinctly the remarkably picturesque forms of Pyramid, Maroon and other mountains, rising to an elevation of over 14,000 feet, yet composed of nearly horizontal beds of these variegated rocks. The prevailing color is a dull red or purple. Maroon peak, 14,003 feet above sea level, receives its name from its prevailing color. Great numbers of these peaks, which in the aggregate, form the celebrated Elk Mountain range of Central Colorado, seem to have been originally thrust up through the overlying Cretaceous and Tertiary beds with the utmost irregularity, producing a series. of faults and overturnings of strata, equalled in very few localities on this continent. Teocalli mountain does not present the appearance of having been eroded since the uplift, and the vast

thickness of superincumbent strata may have been removed prior to its elevation, but we know that at least 10,000 feet of more modern beds, at one period rested upon it. The illustrations accompanying this paper will serve to convey some idea to the reader of the unique scenery which abounds in the mountain regions of Central Colorado.

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A SKETCH OF THE PROGRESS OF BOTANY IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE YEAR 1879.

BY PROF. C. E. BESSEY.

A. Anatomy and Physiology.—In this department the observations of the botanists of this country, as shown by their published papers, were directed mainly to the reproductive organs and their functions; and with one or two exceptions the papers were short, involving but a few quickly-made observations. Little or no work was done in micro-anatomy (histology) and proper physiology.

While we may regret that so much of the field has been so sadly neglected in our country, we should remember, that as a rule our botanists are overloaded with other duties which render it often impossible for them to command the time for making the necessary investigations.

In the January number of the NATURALIST, Prof. J. E. Todd published a paper "On Certain Contrivances for Cross-fertilization in Flowers," illustrated by eight wood-cuts, in which he described the modes of pollination in Martynia, Penstemon and Lobelia, and added a few observations upon the structure of the Iris flower. In the same journal Mr. William Trelease published (p. 427) a paper "On the Fertilization of several species of Lobelia," and another (p. 688) on "The Fertilization of our native species of Clitoria and Centrosema," both illustrated by several cuts. Thomas Meehan's paper "On the Fertilization of Yucca," read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, is interesting from the fact that it shows that in Yucca, where we appear to have so perfect an adaptation of flower and insect (Pronuba yuccasella), pollination may still be effected by other and unusual means.

Prof. W. J. Beal described in the American Journal of Science and Arts for May, some "Experiments in Cross-breeding plants

of the same Variety." Of Indian corn and wax beans, two lots of each were obtained from widely different localities; these were so planted as to secure cross-fertilization in certain cases, and fertilization without crossing in others. The result was shown to be highly favorable to the crossed plants.

Dr. M. E. Elrod's paper on the "Seeds of the Violet and other plants as Projectiles," in the February NATURALIST, and that of R. E. C. Stearns in the July number of the same journal, on "The Form of Seeds as a Factor in Natural Selection," contribute somewhat to our knowledge of the means for the distribution of the seeds of plants.

Of other papers in this department, the following may be mentioned: "Trimorphism in Lithospermum canescens," by Mr. E, F. Smith in the Botanical Gazette for June; "Sexual differentiation in Epigaa repens," by Mr. L. F. Ward; "Note on the movement of the stamens of Sabbatia angularis," by the same author, both read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science; "Objects of Sex and Odor in Flowers," by Thomas Meehan, read before the A. A. A. S., and printed in the Scientific American, Oct. 1879, pointing out that "variation is not merely an incident of form, but that it must necessarily be a primary object in nature; that the institution of sex is but an incident in the primary law of variation; and that all the machinery for fertilization and cross-fertilization is with the object of causing a change of form far in the future, and with no material bearing on the good of the individual, or even of the race." Here should. be mentioned Prof. Tuckerman's paper, "The Question of the Gonidia of Lichens" (Am. Four. Sci. and Arts, March, 1879), a review of Dr. Mink's recently published observations. The reviewer gives a short résumé of the lichen-gonidia controversy, and records some observations of his own, which he regarded as confirmatory of those of Dr. Minks.

B. Systematic Botany.—a. Fungi.—One of the most important contributions in this department is Mr. C. H. Peck's "Report of the Botanist" in the Thirty-first Annual Report of the New York State Museum of Natural History. This report, although bearing date of January, 1878, was actually not published until 1879. Many new species of Fungi (mostly Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes) are described. One of the most interesting of these is the one which lives parasitically within the abdomen of the seventeen

year Cicada, and which Mr. Peck proposes to put into the new genus Massospora, which he briefly characterizes. The table giving the synonymy of the Myxomycetes of New York, and the critical notes which follow are valuable, especially to those who do not have access to Rostafinski's work.

In the "United States Species of Lycoperdon," a paper read Feb. 4, 1879, by Mr. C. H. Peck, before the Albany Institute, we have the first approximately complete account of the puff-balls of this country. The paper opens with a general description of puff-balls, covering six pages. This is followed by a synoptical table of the species, which are arranged under two sections, viz: Bovistoides and Proteoides, according as the peridium ruptures irregularly or regularly. The excellent specific descriptions which follow in the body of the paper, are based upon Mr. Peck's personal observations, and these are supplemented by remarks upon the general and more obvious characters, as well as the distinguishing features of such species as are closely allied and liable to be confused. Nineteen species are thus described in full, and four others, known to occur in the United States, but not seen by Mr. Peck, are more briefly noticed at the end of the paper. A list of publications consulted closes this valuable contribution.

The same indefatigable mycologist, in several short articles in the Botanical Gazette, described thirty-eight new species from various parts of the United States. Of these twenty are Uredineæ, six Hymenomycetes and four Gasteromycetes.

M. C. Cooke, in the March number of Grevillea described several new species from California, and in the September number of the same journal, Mr. Cooke and J. B. Ellis described thirty or more new Fungi from New Jersey.

Baron Theumen's short contribution in the October Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, contained descriptions of several new species.

In F. B. Hine's "Observations on Several Forms of Saprolegnieæ," begun in the October (1878) American Quarterly Microscopical Journal, and concluded in January, 1879, we have one of the first records of a careful study of the plants of this interesting order in this country. Four plates, filled with many figures, accompany the paper.

J. B. Ellis' paper "On the Variability of Sphæria quercuum