Miscellaneous. 231 



other, P. .vanthipes, is rather smaller, and has a short but very 

 thickly furred tail. It is yellowish grey above, becoming fulvous on 

 the lateral membranes and feet. The body beneath is greyish. 



Ruminants. — M. Fontanier brought from Pekin a stag equal to 

 C. elapTius in stature, and resembling that species in its general 

 characters. It is distinguished by the more elongate form of the 

 head, the greyer colour of the coat, and by the great development of 

 the ischiatic patch, which is yellow. Hence the author names this 

 species Cervus xanthopygus. — Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. 5. tome viii. 

 pp. 374-376. 



Notes on some Algce from a Californian Hot Spring. By Dr. H. C. 

 Wood, Jun., Professor of Botany in the University of Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



Some time since, Prof. Leidy handed me for examination a number 

 of dried Algae, which he had received from Prof. Seidensticker, by 

 whose sister, Mrs. Partz, they had been gathered in the " Benton 

 Spring," which is situated in the extreme northern point of Owen's 

 Valley, California, sixty miles south-west from the town of Aurora. 

 Afterwards a number of similar specimens came to me directly from 

 Mrs. Partz by mail. The subject of life in thermal springs is one of 

 so much general interest, especially in connexion with that of spon- 

 taneous generation, as to induce me to make a very careful exami- 

 nation of the material and offer the results to the readers of this 

 journal. In this connexion the following extract from a letter of 

 Mrs. Partz to her brother is very relevant : — 



" I send you a few samples of the singular vegetation developed 

 in the hot springs of our valley. These springs rise from the earth 

 in an area of about 80 square feet, which forms a basin or pond that 

 pours its hot waters into a narrow creek. In the basin are produced 

 the first forms, partly at a temperature of 124°-135° F. Gradually 

 in the creek and to a distance of 100 yards from the springs are 

 developed, at a temperature of 110°-120° F., the Algae, some grow- 

 ing to a length of over 2 feet, and looking like bunches of waving 

 hair of the most beautiful green. Below 100° F. these plants cease 

 to grow, and give way to a slimy fungus growth, though likewise of 

 a beautiful green, which, finally, as the temperature of the water 

 decreases, also disappears. They are very difficult to preserve, being 

 of so soft and pulpy a nature as not to bear the least handling, and 

 must be carried in their native hot water to the house, very few at 

 a time, and floated upon paper. After being taken from the water 

 and allowed to cool, they become a black pulpy mass. But more 

 strange than the vegetable are the animal organizations, whose 

 germs, probably through modifications of successive generations, have 

 finally become indigenous to these strange precincts. Mr. Partz and 

 myself saw in the clear water of the basin a very sprightly spider- 

 hke creature running nimbly over the ground, where the water was 

 124° F., and on another occasion dipped out two tiny red worms." 



In regard to the temperatures given, and the observation as to 



