204 Field Columbian Museum — Zoology, Vol. III. 



is a low, flat, sandy plain, several miles wide and extending for many 

 miles parallel to the coast. It is flanked by a mesa a hundred feet higher 

 and of about the same appearance and extent, but bounded on the east 

 by low hills, which gradually rise to the higher interior mountains. The 

 region is covered with a fair growth of small bushes and cacti, with a few 

 scattered giant cereus. About the river-beds a few willows and cotton- 

 woods occur, but nowhere else is any vegetation, approximating trees in 

 size, to be found. Near the mouth of the San Simon river a lagoon of 

 fresh water occurs, which is surrounded by a heavy growth of succulent 

 weeds and grasses. This narrow strip of country, bordering the desert, has 

 a cool, damp climate, quite different from that met with a few miles 

 inland." The latter part of July Mr. Heller left San Quentin for the 

 San Pedro Martir Mountains, with the intention of penetrating among 

 the high peaks and exploring the lofty parts of the range. His first 

 camp was at Agua Juncolito, where a stay of but one day was made, 

 and then he proceeded to another spring called Agua Escondido, where 

 he remained four days, and then passed on to Santa Eulalia, at the south 

 end of the mountains, at an elevation of 6,000 feet, and the southern 

 limit of the pine forests. Here he remained two weeks and obtained a 

 considerable number of very desirable specimens. He then went to 

 Santa Rosa, 15 miles north, elevation 7,000 feet, where the pine forests 

 were more extensive and denser. He remained but two days at this 

 camp and then went to La Grulla, " a meadow about the center of the 

 range and near the west base of the highest peaks, at an elevation of 

 about 8,000 feet ; pine forests heavy, the largest trees on the mountains." 

 Eleven days were passed in this camp, and he then went to Vallecitos, "a 

 series of small meadows near the north end of the mountains, averaging 

 about 9,000 feet elevation ; forest composed of various species of pines ; 

 the eastern part bordering the desert slope." Aguaje de las Fresas was 

 the next stopping-place, a spring "in a small canon on the northern 

 slope, at about 6,000 feet elevation and near the lower limit of the pines." 

 The next camp was made at Pifion, " near the north base of the moun- 

 tain, at about 5,000 feet altitude, the lower limit of the yellow pine. The 

 final stopping-place in the San Pedro Martir Mountains was made at El 

 Alamo. This place " is situated on the western edge of a large plain, at 

 an elevation of at least 3,500 feet. It is separated from the coast by a 

 considerable range of hills, and from the desert by the Hanson Laguna 

 Mountains. The plain is covered by a scattered growth of juniper, 

 pihon, manzanita, chamiso, mesquite, yucca, etc." In reviewing his 

 journey Mr. Heller writes: "The San Pedro Martir Mountains were 

 thoroughly explored. They were ascended at their southern extremity 

 the first part of August and camps were made at intervals on the ridge to 



