776 FINAL JOURNEYS AND WORK. [1885, 



That is the most probable notion, next to my 

 theory. 



For consider, we know the genus only on these two 

 opposite shores. 



Perhaps so far as I know, there is no more C. 

 alba in the Old World than C. Conradii in the New. 

 And if it were in New England that the former 

 occurs, we could say that the Old World received the 

 genus from the New via the Gulf Stream. 



November 6. 



... I start farther back than the retreat of the 

 glaciers. I suppose that the common ancestor of 

 both Coremas was in the high north before the gla- 

 cial period, and that the two, in their limited but 

 dissociated habitats, are what is left after such vicis- 

 situdes ! 



In that view it does not matter how long New Eng- 

 land coast was under water. Our plant and its com- 

 panions were then further south or west. 



Yours ever, A. GRAY. 



On the approach of Dr. Gray's seventy-fifth birth- 

 day it was suggested among the younger botanists that 

 some tribute of love and respect should be presented 

 to him. Accordingly a letter was sent to all botanists 

 whose addresses could be obtained within the very 

 limited time. A silver vase was decided upon, and 

 designs furnished, which were most happily and beau- 

 tifully carried out. The description, copied from the 

 " Botanical Gazette," gives its size and decorations. 



" It is about eleven inches high exclusive of the 

 ebony pedestal, which is surrounded by a hoop of 

 hammered silver, bearing the inscription 4 1810, No- 



