280 General Notes. [ April, 
reliable a study of Norse mythology possesses, the book, it seems to us, 
will prove of lasting value to the student of comparative mythology. If 
the Norsemen originally came from Asia, we have in this recent folk lore 
a descendant of a fossil mythology, and a means of comparison with the 
mythology of our American aborigines. When the time comes for a 
Er study of our Indian traditions and legends, we may be able 
discover some connection with the archaic myths of the Indians of the 
Old World which will throw some light on the origin of human life on 
our continent. 
CENT booxs AND PAMPHLETS. — A Romance of Perfume Lands, or the Search 
for Cart Jacob Cole. With Interesting Facts about Perfumes and Articles used 
in the Toilet. By F. S. Clifford. Boston: Clifford. 1875. 12mo, pp. 295. 
On the Superficial Geology of the Central Region of North America. By G. M 
eigen (From the Gavareerty Journal of the Geological Society, London, Novem- 
ber, 1875.) 8vo, pp. 603 
La Maturation de P’ Œnuf, la Fécondation, et les premières Phases du ep 
embryonnaire des Mammiferes, d’aprés des Rechgrches faites chez le Lapin. 
munication préliminaire. Par “fidouard Van Beneden. Bruxelles. 1875. aii jk 
53. 
The Present Condition of the Earth’s Interior. By Geo. F. Kittredge. Buffalo. 
1876. 8vo, pp. 
First Annual Report of the Chicago Botanical Garden, December 1, 1875. 
Chicago. 1876. 8vo, pp. 4 
GENERAL NOTES. 
BOTANY. 
Tae PLANTAIN INDIGENOUS IN SouTHERN CoLoRADo. — While 
with Holmes’s division of Hayden’s survey last summer, in Southwestern 
Colorado, I found the common dooryard plantain under such circum- 
stances as to render it probable that it is indigenous there. With the 
exception of a few plants growing in a grass-plot where it was no doubt 
sown with eastern grass seed, I have never met with it in Eastern Col- 
orado. Near the corner of the four Territories, on the sand-bars of the 
Rio Dolores and Rio de los Mancos, a part of Colorado inhabited only 
by Navajoes and Utes, it is quite common. This almost unknown region 
has rarely been visited by the white man, and the plant could not have 
been introduced by him. — T. S. BRaNDEGEE. 
ViraLity or SeeDs. — Professor Ernst, of Caracas, contributes the 
following facts to this vexed subject. The Plaza Bolivar in Caracas was 
formerly a market-place, and until the year 1867 formed a square plain 
inclined from north to south, When the government decided to remove 
the market and use the grounds as a park, the place was leveled by dig- 
ging away about six feet of the soil at the northern end. Of course 4 
fresh surface was thus exposed to the air. A large number of rubbish 
1 Conducted by Pror. G. L. GOODALE. 
eee ae See 3 = 
TA T Sie eneL Se awa iinet bela tr ah Po Eke 
