The Species of the Genus Larix. 59 
39). Mayr’s account of its occurrence in 1903 includes 
an isolated specimen near a temple, and some old trees 
on a slope of a neighbouring mountain. Together with 
these, the oldest, accounts, Purpom’s observations, showing 
that the tree has now become very rare on the mountains 
west of Peking (Pl. Wils. II, p. 21), give the impression of 
a rapidly declining tree, and one which, at any rate, is 
now found for the most part scattered in the higher mountain 
regions, 2000—3000 m. above sea-level. 
Neither does it appear to be a particularly tall tree, 
the greatest dimensions given being 20—25 m. high with a 
girth of 2 m. The cone is cylindrical, being longer, and 
possessing considerably more cone-scales, than either L. 
Gmelini or L. G. var. olgensis. The shape and number of 
the cone-scales are reminiscent of L. sibirica, with which 
FRANCHET also classified it on the basis of Davin’s speci- 
mens. It differs, however, quite distinctly from L. sibirica 
in its smooth, thinner cone-scales, which are not incurved 
along the free margin, and are more openly arranged, thus 
giving the cone that appearance of lightness and openness 
characteristic of L. Gmelini and its varieties, and which is 
especially apparent when dry. Mayr’s cones, which seem 
to be of unusual size, are 4,2—4,3 cms. in length; cones 
from 2400 m. above sea-level in Wutai-shan (Purpom, No. 
161 b) are 2—3 cms. long, while others from 2550 m. above 
sea-level in the same district are only 1'/2—2'/4 cms. in 
length, but they are all more slender and narrower in 
comparison with the length than the cone of L. Gmelini. 
The, relatively, still larger size of the cone is the only 
point of difference between it and var. olgensis. The cone 
when flowering is red with a pale midrib in the bracts, 
according to Wm. Purpom’s specimens in the U. S. National 
