160 NOTICES OF BOOKS. 
are made on other and allied genera and species, which enhance cou- 
siderably the value of this Memoir. Not the least interesting portion 
consists of extracts from the Journal of Mr. Thurber, prepared by that | 
gentleman, at the request of Dr. Gray, “ to give some idea of the geo- 
graphical situation, features, and characteristic vegetation of the region 
in which these plants were collected ;” to which Dr. Gray has appended 
valuable botanical remarks in the form of foot-notes. These together 
occupy eight large quarto pages,—too much to be transferred to our 
.. Journal, and not of a nature to allow of curtailment. 'The most striking 
plant met with was the Cerews giganteus, Engelm., a plant which the 
- figure in * Emory's Journey from the Missouri to California’ shows to 
. be very similar in general appearance to C. senilis, but which Dr. En- 
gelmann has proved to be quite distinct. “The first specimen met with 
was in a cafion near the deserted Mission of Cocospera, and it brought 
the whole party to a halt. Standing alone upon a rocky projection, it 
rose in a single unbranched column to the height of some thirty feet, 
and formed a sight which seemed almost worth the journey (disastrous 
as it was) to behold. Advancing into the cafion, specimens became 
more numerous, until at length the whole vegetation was, in places, 
& made up of this and other Cactacee. Description can convey no ade- 
. quate idea of this singular vegetation, at once so grand and dreary. 
= The Opuntia arborescens and Cereus Thurberi, which had before been 
. regarded with wonder, now seemed insignificant in comparison with the 
giant Cactus which towered far above.” The fruit is described in another 
place as an important article of food among the Indians, who collect it 
in large quantities and roll it into balls, which keep well without other 
preparation. The seeds from portions of this conserve, brought home, 
ve germinated ; and we may add that, thanks to our American friends, 
E oa, Ig e of these seeds sent in their pulp 
"tes ies = ibers are requested, at p. 87 and line 21 of this volame, 
to correct with a pen the word “parenchyma,” which should have been 
