ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 121 



flourished in waters of the temperature of 200° F., but was most abundant 

 where the temperature ranged from 125° to 140° F. It coated the soil around 

 the steam jets, where it would be alternately exposed to the jets of steam issu- 

 ing at a higher temperature than that of boiling water, and of the cooler air. 



In water of the temperatures of 100° to 125° there are filamentons algas. 



At the Little Geysers similar facts were observed. 



In Plumas County, near Lassens Peak, there are three groups of hot springs, 

 at all of which the same form of vegetation is abundant under similar condi- 

 tions, especially around steam jets. Various gases, especially sulphohydric and 

 sulphurous acids, accompanying the steam in all of these localities, and the soil 

 is generally impregnated with various saline substances. All the specimens of 

 the plants were unfortunately lost, so that no microscopic examination has been 

 made, further than could be done on the spot with a pocket lens. 



Near all of these springs, the Panicum thermalc Bolander, grows on the 

 saline soils, sometimes where the soil is warm and the grass is subjected to 

 steam ; but its station appears to depend more upon the saline character of the 

 soil than upon its temperature. It was frequently found on soil saturated with 

 sulphates of soda, lime, etc., and having a strongly acid reaction. 



None of these forms are universally found about all the hot springs of the 

 State ; many springs have been visited where neither of them occur, but where 

 one is found the other is generally found also. 



Dr. Cooper presented the following paper for Dr. Newcomb, 

 corresponding member : 



Description of a New Species of Pedicularia. 



BY W.NEWCOMB, M.D. 



Pedicularia Swainson. 

 Pedicularia Califomica Newc. 

 P. testa depresa-globosa, coccinea, minute transverse striata, supra rotundata, 

 infra late aperta ; labio expanso, semi-circulare ; columella crassa, dilatata, intus 

 recta ; apertura elongato sub-ovata ; extremitatibus effusis : 



Long. 0.4 pol. 

 Lat. 0.3 " 

 Alt. 0.25 " 

 Hab. California. 

 Shell depressly globose, crimson colored, minutely transversely striated, 

 above rounded, below broadly open ; lip expanded, semicircular ; columella 

 thick, dilated within, straight ; aperture elongately sub-ovate ; extremities 

 broadly notched. 



The Genus Pedicularia was established by Swainson for the reception of a 

 single species (P. sicula) of that author. During the past year another species 

 has been added by that eminent Naturalist, G. P. Deshayes, of Paris. 



In a work published, on the shells of the Isle of Bourbon, he describes a beau- 

 tiful violet-colored species under the name of P. elegantissima. The Cali- 

 fornia species (of which only one specimen has been obtained) can scarcely be 

 surpassed in brilliancy by its Indian Ocean congener, although bearing the 

 exquisite name of elegantissima. 



