Pie NCE 
EDITORIAL CommitrEeE: S. NeEwcoms, Mathematics; R. S. WooDWARD, Mechanics; E. C. PICKERING, 
Astronomy; T. C. MENDENHALL, Physics; R. H. THURSTON, Engineering; IRA REMSEN, Chemistry; 
J. LE ConTE, Geology; W. M. DAvis, Physiography; O. C. MAksH, Paleontology; W. K. 
Brooks, C. HART MERRIAM, Zoology; S. H. SCUDDER, Entomology; N. L. BRITTon, 
Botany; HENRY F. OsBoRN, General Biology; H. P. Bowpbircu, Physiology; 
J. S. Bintines, Hygiene ; J. MCKEEN CATTELL, Psychology ; 
DANIEL G. BRINTON, J. W. POWELL, Anthropology. 
Fripay, Juny 30, 1897. 
CONTENTS: 
The Vegetation of the Hot Springs of Yellowstone 
Park: BRADLEY M. DAVIG.............:0.ceeereeeee 145 
Rarefied and Condensed Air: G. VON LIEBIGC...... 157 
Notes on the Natural History of the Wilmington Re- 
GOES TBC Wo! WWVANUSORS GesccsosoobooHocucdepoconoccoL0000 163 
Current Notes on Anthropology :— 
Petrie’s ‘New Race’ in Egypt ; A Philosophie Sect : 
1D), (Gis TEIRIENRORY ooascososcros: ccaonansnesoocosen=braadaeoos 
Notes on Inorganic Chemistry: J. L. Foon 
Scientific Notes and News............-....see0eees : 
University and Educational News. ..........0.seseesenees 
Discussion and Correspondence :— 
Amphibia or Batrachia: G. BAUR. Correction 
Concerning Mr. Rhoads’ Use of the Name Bassa- 
riscus raptor (BAIRD): C. HART MERRIAM........170 
Scientific Literature :-— 
Vital and Social Statistics in the United States: D. 
T, A. COCKERELL. Geologic Atlas of the United 
States. Britton and Brown’s Iilustrated Flora of 
the United States: F. V. COVILLE.........,...0.+0005 174 
Scientific Journals :-— 
Terrestrial Magnetism ..........s0cecoerseerercsceseneaee 180 
MSS. intended for publication and books, etc., intended 
for review should be sent to the responsible editor, Prof. J. 
McKeen Cattell, Garrison-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
THE VEGETATION OF THE HOT SPRINGS OF 
YELLOWSTONE PARK. 
Mucu of the beauty of the so-called ‘ for- 
mations’ of Yellowstone National Park 
lies in the brilliant tints of the mineral de- 
posits, wet from the streams of hot water 
that issue from the thermal springs and 
geysers. 
Formation is a general term employed to 
designate any mineral matter deposited by 
the geysers and hot springs. The amount 
of formation in the Park is extraordinarily 
large, but it is chiefly confined to four re- 
gions. At Mammoth Hot Springs there is 
an immense deposit of calcium carbonate, 
the sides of which are terraced with pul- 
pit-like projecting basins, as is shown in fig- 
ure 1.% 
These interesting basins are formed by 
the activities of numerous hot springs upon 
the top and along the sides of the terraces. 
The entire pile of dazzling white mineral 
has been likened to the front of a glacier. 
The Norris Geyser Basin, the Lower Gey- 
ser Basin and the Upper Geyser Basin are 
similar to one another in certain respects. 
They are extensive expanses of formation 
chiefly silicious in composition. All of 
them are situated in the floor of a valley 
and cover acres on either side of the Fire- 
hole River, which flows between banks of 
snowy whiteness. Upon these formations 
are scattered the numerous mounds built 
up by the geysers, and here also are many 
clear pools of hot water. The latter are of 
various sizes, some mere shallow puddles 
which sizzle and sputter, but most of them 
deep basins with sloping sides, and one at 
least a pond a hundred yards wide. The 
water is almost always scalding hot, some- 
times even boiling violently in the middle 
of the pool. 
*Fioures 1, 5 and 7 are taken from the Ninth An- 
nual Report of the United States Geological Survey. 
