62 ANTIRRHINUM SPECIOSUM. GAMBEL S SNAP-DRAGON. 



corolla about an inch in length and tubular, with a conspicuous 

 saccate spur at the base. Though so different in habit, yet 

 closely allied to Ajttiin^himmi, — the tubular corolla, smooth 

 palate, and entire stigma being all that disdnguishes it from that 

 genus. The seed may also prove different, but that is at 

 present unknown. It is a plant highly worthy of cultivation, 

 and flowers early in April." It seems to have been one of those 

 cases where the distinct habit and appearance were relied on to 

 furnish characters that descriptive science fails to perceive, for 

 few untutored persons would imagine there was any relationship 

 between our plant and the familiar Snap-dragon, 



It is to be regretted that the attempt to honor Mr. Gambel in 

 this genus could not be sustained, for he seems to have been 

 one of those very meritorious persons, who, triumphing over 

 early obstacles, succeed by their perseverance in serving their 

 fellows, and often, as in this instance, at the expense of their 

 lives. He passed the early part of his life in Philadelphia with 

 his mother and sister, who were in humble circumstances. He 

 pursued successfully a course of study in the medical depart- 

 ment of the University of Pennsylvania, taking the degree of 

 M. D., in March, 1848, adopting for his inaugural thesis 

 "Organic Forms or Species." His death occurred on the 13th 

 of December of the year following. His services to science 

 commenced in 1842, when, at the solicitation of Mr. Nuttall, 

 whom some think was his uncle, he made an overland trip to 

 California, collecting numerous birds and plants, returning early 

 in the spring of the following year, when he was made a member 

 of the Academy of Natural Sciences for his disdnguished ser- 

 vices. He was subsequently elected Recording Secretary of 

 the Institution, which office he resigned in order to make 

 another collecting tour across the continent, on which journey he 

 set out in the spring of 1849. His track was from Independ- 

 ence, Missouri, to the Kansas river, and from thence to Fort 

 Kearney. From here he struck off on a comparatively unknown 

 and rugged trail in the hope of getdng more noveldes, crossing 



