Vol. III. APRIL, 1887. No. 24. 



COLLECTING IN THE CAPE REGION OF LOWER 

 CALIFORNIA. 



But few persons are aware that much of Lower CaHfornia is, at 

 this late day, a veritable Terra incognita. 



Much of it has not been explored by the Naturalist, to whom it 

 is likely to long remain a land of interest. Xantus made large 

 collections in the neighborhood of Cape St. Lucas, during the 

 three years he spent there, which terminated about twenty-seven 

 years ago, and the writer collected at La Paz and southward from 

 about December ist, 188 r, to May 20th, 1882, and again in the 

 winter of 1882-83, but from La Paz northward to the boundary 

 line, a distance of about six hundred English miles, the most of 

 the Peninsula is still unexplored, the small collections which have 

 been made immediately on its west coast, at Cerros Island, Santa 

 Rosalia and San Quentin Bays, furnishing little or no evidence of 

 the fauna of the mountain ranges of the interior. The fauna from 

 La Paz south, is nearly related to that of the Colorado Desert, to 

 parts of Arizona and Sonora, and the flora of all bears a general 

 resemblance, the most characteristic plants being the Giant Cac- 

 tus, Mesquite and other pod bearing trees. 



The Cape Region, as that part of the peninsula from La Paz 

 south may be termed, has, however, a considerable number of 

 species peculiar to itself, including fourteen species and varieties 

 of land birds, besides one wading species, a rail, and several 

 species of reptiles- How much north of La Paz the 'Cape spe- 

 cies" are dispersed, can only be determined by future explora- 

 tions. Scarcity of food and water for man and horse, are the chief 

 difficulties the explorei has to contend with. 



The absence of wagon roads, except in the northern part and 

 near La Paz, few trails and thorny vegetation add materially to the 

 difficulty. To say that every plant bears thorns, and every insect 

 a sting, would be to exaggerate, but there is foundation for the 

 saying. 



Venomous serpents and insects are numerous, and must be 

 guarded against, though not especially dangerous. The ' Zorillo' 



