0. D. Waleott—Pre- Carboniferous Strata in Arizona, 437 
—as we suppose to be the case—some of these genera, such as 
Cacalia, ought to be maintained. But that is only the beginning. 
more recent author, Baillon, has reduced the genera of Com- 
posite nearly one half. For example, to Helenium he has referred 
Gaillardia, Actinella, Cephalophora, etc.; to Tagetes he has re- 
ferred Dysodia, Nicoletta, Hymenatherum and others; to Helian- 
thus a greater number of genera, most of them prolific in species. 
Tn all probability, most of these reductions will not be approved. 
Yet, if the principle of constructive naming is adopted, the 
Nomenclator must burden its columns with these hosts of 
inchoate specific names of Baillon, either as received names or 
as synonyms. It is plain that the principle referred to, besides 
\ts incongruity with the leading ideas of received nomenclature, 
breaks down with its own weight. There are, nevertheless, 
taking arguments in its favor, which need not here be reca- 
pitulated ; and the common system has its disadvantages and 
liability to abuse. Yet it appears to be the only workable 
system. As already intimated, the right assignment of specific 
Names in reconstructed genera requires particular knowledge 
and careful investigation. And the botanist who reconstructs 
genera should himself adjust and state the specific names as 
tas he can. 
— 
Ant. XLIX.—Pre-Carboniferous Strata in the Grand Cation of 
the Colorado, Arizona; by CHarLes D. Waxcort, of the 
U. S. Geological Survey. 
Durine the month of November, 1882, the Director of the 
Survey had constructed, under his immediate supervision, a 
horse trail from the brink of a lateral cafion on the east face of 
the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona, down to the more level cafion 
of Nun-ko-weap Valley 3,000 feet below. Hncamped in 
the snow, often concealed for days in the driving frozen mist 
and whirling snow, the party gradually overcame the appar- 
ently insurmountable obstacles in the way, and, Nov. 
camp was formed in the supposed “inaccessible” depths of 
the head of the Grand Cafion, a day of reconnoissance and 
rest. Then the director headed his party of faithful, energetic 
men and left the writer, who, through illness, had been unable 
to share in the building of the trail, with three men and outtfit 
far as could be reached south. Seventy-two days of constant 
Work gave some of the information wished, a portion of which 
