1879. ] Botany. 777 
n the Structure and Affinities of the “ Tabulate Corals ” of the Paleozoic Period, 
with critical seer prions of illustrative sperit By H. Alleyne Nicholson, M.D., 
LF: R.SE., 8vo, clo oP p- 342, pls. I-xv. W. Blackwood & Sons, Edin- 
re ere and Eendus. MDCCCLXXIX. 
Suggestions on the Maintenance, Creation and Enrichment of pb tank as applica- 
ble to the particular requirements of the colony of Victoria. By Baron Ferd. 
Mueller, F.R.S., pes +, government botanist for Victoria. I2mo, pp. 31. Meitiouthe, 
1879. From the author. 
The Geological a of the Fortieth Parallel. By Prof. J. S. Newberry. 8vo, 
pp. 16. (Repr. from Pop. Sci. Monthly, July, 1879.) From the author. 
:0! 
GENERAL NOTES. 
BOTANY. 
On THE HABITAT OF RHODODENDRON CATAWBIENSE.—In the 
spring of 1878 I was informed that “laurel” grew in abundance 
a few miles from the State prani at Chapel Hill. As I was 
village. Much to my surprise I beheld a dense growth, not of 
Kalmia, but of Rhododendron. The shrubs were from eight to 
fifteen feet in height and among the smooth green leaves were 
clusters of the most beautiful purple blossoms. Could it be 
Rhododendron catawbiense growing so luxuriantly at an altitude 
of only five hundred feet? I sent specimens to my friend, Prof. 
W. R. Dudley, of Cornell University, together with a description 
of the locality. In reply to my letter, he says: “I recognized 
them at first sight as this (R. catawbiense). * * They are 
indigenous om on the higher summits of the Alleghanies. We > 
found them on the Black mountains last summer, but only above 
6000 feet.” Up to this time, I must confess, I had been some- 
what in doubt as to the species, Eeppi as the plant occurred 
in such an unusual situation, but after submitting specimens to so 
competent a botanist as my friend, wh had studied the Rhodo- 
dendron in its mountain home, all doubts were removed. Last 
spring a member the university chancing to meet t Prof. Gray, _ 
who was on a botanical excursion in Western Carolina, mentioned = 
to him the fact er the laurel grew near Chapel Hill. Dr. Gray — 
was evidently much astonished, and, having been informed of 
this, I immediately sent him a dried specimen and a description 
of the loc ocality. He replied as follows: “The laurel (which I 
had heard of from one of your pupils whom I met in June) I 
am delighted to see. It is certainly, as you say, R. catawébtense, : 
and most remarkable for occurring at so low a level, where it  — 
a flowers seueige It comes down somewhat as s R. AEE does i w 
