WEST COAST NEWS NOTES 



FORDYCE GHINNELL, JR., PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 



"The field is vast. No one can explore it all. But one here and another yonder 

 can gather and make record of new facts, correct past errors, diffuse new light. 

 So, the more perfect knowledge, which here as in all departments of science, men 

 work for, yet wait for, will be attained." — Dr. E. L. Greene, in West American 

 Oaks. 



Dr. J. M. Aldrich, of the State University, Moscow, Idaho, a leading student 

 of the Diptera, has been granted an appropriation from the trustees of the 

 Elizabeth Thompson Fund to "investigate the fauna of the waters and shores of 

 western salt and alkaline lakes." He is planning a trip of at least six weeks this 

 summer, beginning his studies at Great Salt Lake, Utah, where he has already 

 done some work, and extending from there, westward through the Great Basin, as 

 far as Mono Lake, California, making stops at a dozen points or more to collect 

 and study the insect life in particular. From Mono Lake he may go into the 

 Yosemite Park for a short visit, and then on to Owen's Lake, and via Mojave to 

 Los Angeles. He will visit Pasadena and do some collecting in the vicinity, and 

 also at Long Beach, the Biological Station at La JoUa, and return to Moscow by 

 way of San Francisco, and Portland, Oregon. In a letter he writes: "The best 

 feature is that my main object, the salt and alkaline lakes, will surely yield some 

 fine results. The few things now partially known, and my brief observations at 

 Great Salt Lake, show me that a big field lies here almost untouched; and the 

 Diptera are the main order of insects in their adaptation to such an environment." 

 We, in the Southwest, must give to Prof. Aldrich a royal welcome, and some boxes 

 of flies. 



Mr. Theodore H. Hittell has written a history of the California Academy of 

 Sciences, which will probably be published this year by the Academy. It will be 

 of great interest and inspiration to the present and future naturalists of Cali- 

 fornia. The early development of science in California centered around the San 

 Francisco Academy. The history of California science is unique and very 

 interesting. 



Mr. W. M. Mann, of Stanford University, is a member of the Branner Expe- 

 dition to Brazil. It can safely be assumed that a large quantity of interesting 

 material will be collected by that enthusiastic collector. 



Mr. W. M. Davidson is in United States Department of Agriculture work 

 near San Jose. 



Mr. VV. G. W. Harford, one of the pioneer students of natural history in 

 California, died at Alameda on March 1. Mr. Harford was eighty years of age 

 and had long been associated with the University of California and the California 

 Academy of Sciences as curator and collector. He and Albert Kellogg, the 

 botanist, often worked together. He was interested especially in conchology ; but 



