512 BOTANICAL, INFORMATION. 



California; Danthonia spicata, Hordeum pusillum in waste 

 places, with Panicum capillare. Erigeron Canadense does not 

 thrive here, but Camelina saliva is rank in the wheat-fields. 

 Bromus (244), though of a somewhat strange aspect, seems to 

 be introduced also ; the same may be said of Verbena hastata 

 and bracteosa^ with Gnaphalium uliginosum. 



There is not so much variety in the cotes and ridges of 

 the Spokan country. The characteristic plants and shrubs 

 grow there, at well as Clarkia and Collomia, mixed with 

 species of Hosackia (553), Pyrrocoma (588), the finely- 

 branched and small-flowering Epilobia abundantly, but espe- 

 cially Cynanchum (449), Asclepias (235), Onosmodium (413), 

 Cantua (435), and Poterium (467). Kcelera (537) occurs 

 also. The foregoing grow more on exposed situations ; close 

 to the river is the habitat of the splendid Bartonia lavicaulis,* 



* When I went for this Bartonia, I had a most singular adventure 

 with rattlesnakes. I resolved to camp for the coming Sunday on a narrow 

 enclosed prairie, between the sandy woods, the mountain, and the Spokan 

 river, close to a rapid. After dismounting, I went to the river to drink, 

 and found, on a small gravelly plain at the water's edge, some granite 

 boulders lying scattered about, the whole spun over by Marsilea. En- 

 gaged in examining it, I was attacked by a large rattlesnake, which 

 despatched instantly, and thought no more of the circumstance, especially 

 as some Indians came passing by, from whom I purchased an excellen 

 dried salmon. As I had not had much to eat for the past week, I prepared 

 a good supper of salmon, which I roasted on sticks by the fire. Mean- 

 while, I went to hobble my animals, and being alone, was engaged till 

 dark. White taking my supper, I heard a noise; a mule, which I had 

 tied up for the night, became exceedingly uneasy ; but I did not leave my 

 meal. After having done, I took up my tin cup to go to drink at the 

 river, the moon shining bright. The noise seemed close to me, resem- 

 bhng the sound produced by dragging sticks over hard ground at a 

 distance. As soon as I had traversed the small grassy prairie and stood 

 at the bank, but 3 or 4 feet above the gravelly, stony water's edge, I» t0 

 my astonishment, beheld countless numbers of rattlesnakes, dashing an 

 whirling on the gravelly space below. The moon shone clear, and 

 could distinctly see that they were crawling under and above each otne , 

 especially near the rounded granite boulders, which lay here a 

 there. Around these they kept rattling incessantly, the greater nuro 

 beating their rattles against the stones. The noise was increased by 



