280 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



plants collected during this and the preceeding season was included in 

 Dr. Owen's report published in 1852. 



In 1S49 I was appointed botanist to the Mexican boundary survey, going 

 by way of the Isthmus of Panama to San Diego, California, which latter 

 place was reached in July. In September of the same year I accom- 

 panied an astronomical party to the junction of the Gila and Colorado 

 rivers, returning to San Diego in December. The important collections 

 of this season were unfortunately lost in crossing the Isthmus of Pan- 

 ama while in charge of the late Gen. A. W. Whipple, being probably 

 involved in a disastrous fire while stored in Panama awaiting transpor- 

 tation. 



In the subsequent year, 1850, this loss was partially made up by some" 

 what extensive collections in the vicinity of the Southern Boundary line, 

 and including a land trip up the coast as far as Monterey. 



In the year 1851 I was ordered to Washington to make up my report, 

 but before concluding it was unexpectedly summoned to join the field 

 party on the survey of the boundary, then transferred to El Paso on the 

 Rio Grande. This point was reached by an overland trip, via San Anto- 

 nio, Texas, late in the fall of that year (1851). In January of the suc- 

 ceeding year (1852), I was connected with a small detailed party of 

 exploration across the country west of El Paso, extending as far as the 

 Pimo settlements on the Gila river, returning by the same route to El 

 Paso in April. Subsequently I was connected with various surveying 

 parties on the line of the Rio Grande south of El Paso, including late in 

 the season the section of the river below Presidio Del Norte, comprising 

 a succession of gigantic chasms, which never before or since have been 

 visited by any botanist. 



In the winter of 1852-3 I returned to Washington and made up my 

 report, since published in the bulky volumes of the Mexican Boundary 

 Survey. The interval from 1854 to 1861) was spent mainly in Davenport, 

 not actively engaged in botanical work. 



In the spring of 1861 the culmination of the Pikes Peak fever again 

 opened the way for western exploration, and in a private collecting trip 

 to the Rocky Mountains, I succeeded in securing a rare collection of 

 Alpine plants, including, among many novelties, some of the early dis- 

 coveries of Dr. James on Long's expedition in 1830. In the following 

 season I was associated with E. Hall and J. P. Harbour in further explo- 

 ration of the Rocky Mountain district, the botanical results of which 

 were published in Proceedings of the Philadelphia Academy for 1868. 



In 1864, in company with Dr. J. W. Velie, then of Rock Island, 111., I 

 continued my Rocky Mountain collections, embracing the districts of 

 Long's Peak and Middle Park. 



In 1867 I accompanied a railroad surveying party in the interests of the 

 Pacific Railway Company, across the continent, on the line of 85= par- 

 allel north latitude. The most valuable part of my collections during 

 that season were made in Western Kansas and South-Easteni Colorado, 

 passing by the Sangre de Cristo Pass to Northern New Mexico ; thence 



