HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 275 



The '^consummation devoutly to be wished" has 

 been attained. California has at length been admitted 

 to take her place as a star of the confederated repub- 

 lic. The bill for that object passed the House of 

 Representatives on the Tth of September, 1850, by a 

 vote of yeas, one hundred and fifty, nays fifty-six. It 

 had previously passed the Senate by a no less decisive 

 majority. The announcement of the passage of the 

 bill was received with the greatest enthusiasm by its 

 friends, and considerable excitement upon the part of 

 its opponents. The most constant exertions were 

 made by members from the Southern States to defeat 

 the bill by adjournment and by numerous amendments, 

 but they were unavailing. California triumphed. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



NATURAL HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



A DESCRIPTION or history of California would 

 scarcely be complete without some account of the 

 animal and vegetable life, native to the country ; and, 

 happily, the information upon the subject is copious 

 and accurate. The travels and the observations of 

 Fremont, Emory and others, have developed com- 

 pletely the character aud extent of the Californian 

 vegetable kingdom, and some features of it, particu- 

 larly the great pine forests, have been the theme of 

 general admiration among the tourists. Respecting 

 the various species of beast, bird, fish and reptile, 

 that belong to the country, we have not so full or 



