146 Natural History of the Far allones. [zoe 



fissures partly filled with a granitic conglomerate. Whether these 

 fissures are natural, or were worn by the water, I was unable to de- 

 termine. I also saw fi-agments of jasper and other rocks besides 

 granite scattered about among the debris. 



Mr. }. de la C. Posada informs me that about Carmel Bay, near 

 Monterey, there are sea terraces at levels corresponding closely with 

 those of the Farallones, and that a higher terrace is faintly outlined 

 about 80 feet above the sea. This I may have overlooked at the Far- 

 allones. He found a conglomerate resting unconformably upon the 

 granite and formed of materials eroded from it. This conglomer- 

 ate is inclined at an angle of about 45°. I thought I could distin- 

 guish a marked dip toward the north in the conglomerate of Sugar 

 Loaf Rock, but I was unable to make a close examination, owing to 

 its separation from the island by a narrow channel, and to the 

 roughness of the sea. The sandstone at Point Reyes Light ap- 

 pears to dip toward the south. 



BOTANY. 



The season was too far advanced for a good collection. Many 

 species were already dead, and only dry fragments could be obtained. 

 It is probable that a collection in May would add several more 

 species to the list. Most of the plants here enumerated were doubt- 

 less brought over with the hay and other supplies, while those not 

 thus introduced are given as "native." Eight species were found 

 only in a small garden plot, protected from the rabbits, and else- 

 where would be speedily exterminated. A single fresh-water alga 

 was seen but not collected. There are no trees or shrubs on the 

 island. 



The soil is composed of decomposed granite and guano. Springs 

 are few and small. Bceria viaritima and Lepigomim viacrotheaim 

 are the chief food of the rabbits; at this time of the year there 

 was little except the latter to maintain them, and many were dying 

 of starvation. 



Only one plant — Bceria maritima — ^has been long enough isolated 

 to show variation for which specific rank has been claimed, and it 

 is seriously questioned whether it has departed far enough from 

 B. uliginosa to be considered even a variety. This is the " Faral- 

 lon Weed." It grows abundantly earher in the season, and is said to 

 reach a length of two to four feet. It furnishes excellent pasturage, 

 and is highl)^ esteemed as " greens " by the inhabitants. 



