VOL. Hi.] Miscellany. 375 



from the Cape region. They are now in the hands of Dr. Horn, of 

 Philadelphia, who will describe the new forms at an early date. 



The land shells, some twenty-two species collected during the late 

 expedition to the Cape region, contain some eight or ten new spe- 

 cies, descriptions of which will soon be published by Dr. J. G. 

 Cooper, who has already written upon the subject of Baja California 

 land moUusks. The land and fresh water oligochteta contain a num- 

 ber of new lorms, which are being described by Dr. Gustav Eisen, 

 in connection with other Pacific Coast oligochaeta. The species 

 found in the Cape region are entirely tropical, and show most rela- 

 tionship with tropical Mexico and Central America. 



The fresh water crustaceans, of which many remarkable forms were 

 collected in the clear waters of San Jose River, will be described by 

 Walter Faxon, of Cambridge. G. E. 



NOTES ON THE CLIFF DWELLERS. 



In Southwestern Colorado and in Arizona there have recently 

 been extensive explorations of the ruins of a people now extinct, but 

 probably related to the Pueblo Indians at present living in Arizona. 

 The relics found in their houses indicate that they were an agricul- 

 tural people, and to strengthen this belief remains of ancient reser- 

 voirs and aqueducts exist on the mesas above. There, too, are 

 ruins of houses and towers which were probably occupied before de- 

 fense became necessary and the people fled to the cliffs. The mesa 

 ruins have usually become mounds overgrown with vegetation, but 

 the cliff houses, from their sheltered position, are in a good state of 

 preservation. 



It may be interesting to record the uses they made of some of the 

 plants of the region as well as the plants which they cultivated that 

 grow there no more. 



Corn, squash, and beans were the chief crops; the walnuts now 

 and then discovered were probably brought from further south with 

 the cotton which has been found on the pod, spun into thread, and 

 woven into cloth. Undoubtedly, they had commerce with their own 

 people further south, or with other tribes, for seashells have been 

 found matted in the hair of the dead, salt most carefully preserved in 

 balls, and for their arrow points, stones not found near by. 



The most valuable textile plant was Yucca baccata, the fruit of 



