422 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
of the western coast being distinguished by heavy-faced type. This 
brings us to the main body of the work: the description of all the 
known butterflies of the West Coast. The author recognizes 483 species 
and varieties in this territory, 16 species and 13 varieties appearing here 
for the first time. With but 53 exceptions, each butterfly is represented 
on the plates by from one to seven figures, portraying them in their 
natural colors, and in different aspects. As an appendix three species 
of day-flying moths are described and figured. 
The descriptions, while sufficient, are not strictly technical in form, 
but such as can be understood by any intelligent person, so that, aided 
by the life-like figures, it would be quite possible for one entirely un- 
learned in Entomology to identify, by means of this book, almost any 
butterfly he might find in western North America. The notes on the 
habits, ranges, and other points of interest concerning the different 
species and varieties, are a mine of original observations, to which future 
writers will resort for treasure. For the work is unlikely ever to be 
superseded, but is rather destined to remain as the basis of ail knowledge 
of our western American butterflies. S. B. P. 
CEREUS GIGANTEUS IN CALIFORNIA. 
The occurance of the giant cactus in California has long 
been a matter of uncertainty. Probabilities are favorable, and 
its presence has been rported in sveral publications, but in 
every instance the report was found to have no authentic basis. 
The question has now been set at rest by the explorations of 
Dr. D. T. MeDougal, of th New York Botanical Garden, who, 
in March, of the present year, descended the Colorado River 
from Mellen, Ariz., to the mouth of the Hardy. In Arizona he 
found this cereus as far north as Bill Wilhams Fork, near the 
mouth of which stream it crossed over to the mountains on 
the California side of the Colorado. This would locate it at 
Monument Peak in the Southeastern corner of San Bernardino 
County. Sibaaee 
VARIABILITY OF EUCALYPTUS UNDER CULTIVATION. 
J. H. Maiden, the well known authority on this species, says 
that the new species of Eucalyptus described from specimens 
grown outside of Australia are but cultivated variations and 
cannot be considered as true species. 
This decision will affect the nomenclature of some of the 
species deseribed in ‘‘Eucalyptus,’’ by Abbot Kinney. 
THE CALIFORNIA POPPY. 
Dr. E. L. Greene, now of the United States National 
Museum, of Washington, has in ‘’Pittonia,’’ Vol. V. Part 28, 
revised the whole Eschscholtzin genus. The fruits of his labors 
are somewhat surprising. Instead of the 10 or 12 species we 
supposed California possessed, he has catalogued 112 of which 
38 ar perennial. As the author has given close attention to 
this genus for many years, we may accept his conclusions as 
legitimate and his work as a monument of patient, scientifis 
toil. 
