January 1S98.] 



PSYCHE. 



167 



common and should be kept in mind 

 when handling wood for camp-fires, 

 putthig on shoes in can>p, examining 

 bark of fallen trees, dead leaves, or 

 rubbish of any kind on the ground. 

 They seem to be attracted to fire at 

 night. Their sting, while painful for a 

 few minutes, aflects people differently 

 but seldom produces serious results ; 

 immediate application of strong ammo- 

 nia is recommended. Centipedes two 

 to three inches long were common but 

 did not offer to bite. Tarantulas were 

 not met witii. Rattlesnakes, while 

 said to be common, are rarely seen ; I 

 met but two in all my rambles. There 

 is a small species, about i6 inches long, 

 found on tiie Colorado Desert and per- 

 haps elsewhere, called the side-winder, 

 that is more active and quite as deadly 

 as the larger kind, and is generally 

 feared in consequence. One should be 

 cautious when inspecting low bushes 

 and weeds in the desert regions, and 

 should be prepared to treat snake-bite 

 if so unfortunate as to be wounded. 



"Poison oak" or ivy (Rhus) is very 

 plentiful in certain sections and contact 

 with it should be avoided. Immediate 

 washing after exposure is said to lessen 

 the danger of bad results. In case of 

 poisoning apply a solution of hyposul- 

 phite of soda (photographer's "hypo") 

 or weak carbolic acid. Nettles and cacti 

 are also to be shunned. 



Preparation. In preparation for 



such a trip the intending yisitor will 

 find it advantageous to study the topo- 

 graphy * of the Pacific Coast states; 

 also, to examine the biologic map of 

 North America published by Dr. Mer- 

 riam in North American Fauna No. 3, 

 the climatic map of California published 

 liy the So. Pac. R. R., and the articles 

 on geographical distribution in North 

 America by Dr. Merriam in the Dept. 

 of Agriculture Year-book for 1894 and 

 North American Fauna No. 3. 



For a guide-book Baedeker's United 

 States should be purchased, — this is 

 indispensable. Railroad maps, folders, 

 and illustrated booklets (some of which 

 are very helpful) relating to the Paci- 

 fic Coast and the routes thereto may 

 be procured from agents of the various 

 transcontinental lines. In addition get 

 Rand, McNally & Co.'s vest-pocket 

 maps of the various States (15c. each, — 

 best thing out for railroad stations and 

 general use) . For details of topography 

 there is nothing so good as the few sheets 

 of the topographical map of the United 

 .States, published by the U. S Geol. 

 Survey. These cost but 5c. each and 

 may be had of the Director, at Wash- 

 ington. A knowledge of the right time 

 to go and places to visit can best be 

 secured from one's fellow-specialists. 

 The appended notes on localities may 

 be helpful. 



* See "Topography of California" by N, F. Drake, in 

 Journal of Geology, Sept. -Oct., 1897. 



