The 
Vol. X1 No. 5. Mar., 
7900. 
THE DESERT. 
Read March 8th, 1900, before the San 
Diego Society of Natural History 
(By courtesy San Diego Union.) 
d is one of the chief constituents 
of the desert; save a desert is devoid 
of sand it may term rocky 
slang intended). 
chief ements composing h 
but on the desert it is ahiery conspicu- 
1 of 
t the 
the usual pee thereof: 
habited region, destitute of peat voeti 
a be] 
esert in Nevada was the first 
Pespecestcos in nature by the writer. 
recollection pictures a dreary Set i 
s 
station houses, are also remembrances 
of the region 
My next exper ience with a desert was 
by some ierlnede tengo aged who dies 
th arieties. Here 
hen 
bed ot brilliant LA 
buildings, which, 
invaded ths soutinde of the er 
ster. A sert is still ae 
aise covered knee-deep with 
as a rtion of the Colorado 
it is still 5 4 
gs—as ma v 
visit to ~ undry mining eceiani 
present 
It is no’ se my ait pe at At presen 
dwell upon the wonders 
of the Colorado deseit; which has 
I explored a portion of the e@ my camping gr d for months ¢ 
desert. It was in May 1882, and abund ree Hr to give a resi ‘arrativ 
ant rains had changed the desert into taken a year 
a en of loveliness. The y Calttorniny from the Pacific. 
slopes from the Cajon Pass to the Ma- gulf. : 
have river were covere ith a My route lay near she 28th depres. e, 
of tender annuals decked with flowers ‘steamer St. Denis landing me nearly 
of many colors. Like the opposite» Cedros es at a place call- 
rest of apeepemeace — different cate ed o Domin ut more Droper 
ers were in separate beds, as if 
and I “halteee better known as 
