76 ERYTHEA. 



closely acquaint himself with the native vegetation. Since 1863 his 

 home has been in Alameda. 



Although an enthusiast in botanical pursuits Dr. Gibbons wrote 

 but little. That which he has published relates chiefly to medicinal 

 plants. For twenty years or more he was the chairman of the 

 committee on botany of the California State Medical Society and 

 his writings on the indigenous medical botany of California may be 

 found in its annual Transactions. To this journal (iv, 161) he 

 contributed a most entertaining account of "The Redwoods in the 

 Oakland Hills." In addition to botany he developed an interest in 

 Ichthyology, and contributed systematic descriptions of new species 

 to the early volumes of the Academy's Proceedings. In his honor, 

 Dr. J. G. Cooper erected Gibbonsia, a genus of fishes. (See Proc. 

 Cal. Acad, iii, 108.) 



The subject of our sketch was a citizen as well as a naturalist. 

 Pie gave much time and energy to local affairs, particularly in 

 educational matters, and served in various official capacities. He 

 was President of the first Board of Education of Alameda, and 

 worked for the free school system in the Sierras. 



Dr. Gibbons was, indeed, a man of many accomplishments ; 

 genial in manner and with wide sympathies, he made many friends 

 among the prominent scientists of the Pacific Coast and of the East. 

 He died May 17, 1897, at his home in Alameda County, at the age 

 of eighty-five years. 



OPEN LETTERS. 



I NOTICE in the April number of Erythea, on p. 55, in your 

 reference to Asdepias eriocarpa, Benth., you give Pilarcitos as a 

 possible meaning for Hartweg's "Tularcitos." Tularcitos Ranch is 

 an old Spanish grant, lying near the liead of Carmel River, south- 

 east of Monterey, and on the old trail from Carmel to Arroyo Seco, 

 the "Release" Canon and San Antonio, one of the routes of the 

 mission people. 



I VISITED the upper Carmel Valley in the winter-time only, and 

 therefore had no opportunity to collect any except winter-blooming 

 plants. But the Tularcitos Ranch is still a large one, and the 



