SEQUOIA GIGAXTEA 201 



the Gigantea. If this little metamorphic habit turns 

 out to be an established truth, we can only remark 

 that a touching tribute to the lasting strength of 

 family ties, reminiscent of the mythological story 

 of the two old Phrygians, Philemon and Baucis, may 

 be derived from the incident. It reveals the home 

 truth that any little differences that may occur 

 between the members of the Sequoia family in early 

 days, are made up as between them, in the after-times 

 of advancing life. 



One word more on the pretensions and record of 

 these two Sequoias : the wood of the Sempervirens 

 is vastly superior to that of the Gigantea. 



Sequoia Gigantea or Wellixgtonia. — 



Cleave \s-ith their dark- green cones the silent skies. 



Shelley. 



Shelley must have been dead some twenty years 

 before European eyes, in the person of J. Bidwell, in 

 the 3'ear of our Lord 1841, first beheld the big trees 

 of the Calaveras Grove, and it was not until ten years 

 later than that that authentic accounts and seeds 

 were brought back to England by W. Lobb ; but no 

 tree then or since could better, more deservedly, have 

 drawTi from poet's pen a tribute to the glory of 

 stature. 



By the familiar name Wellingtonia this tree is 

 commonly and colloquially known. In the more 

 orthodox circles it rejoices in the name of Sequoia 

 Gigantea, and as a giant, so far among us, has con- 

 tinued to run its course. 



As the Duke of Wellington was often spoken of as 

 ''The Great Duke,'* so did the newly discovered tree 

 become the holder of the same honorary title, and 

 became known as the Wellingtonia Gigantea. In 

 course of time for some reason, perhaps because the 



