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AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
Vol. I.—SEPTEMBER, 1867.—No. 7. 
—< io 
THE GEYSERS OF CALIFORNIA. 
BY G. L. GOODALE, M. D. 
Tue Geysers of California are situated in lateral ra- 
Vines of Pluton River, a tributary of Russian River. 
‘The picturesque journey from San Francisco to the 
Geysers has been truthfully described by many tourists ; 
hence most of our readers are doubtless familiar with the 
sail over the bay and through the Tulé marsh, the ride up 
the White-wine valley, the slow ascent of an outlying 
crest of the Coast Range, and the perilous drive down into 
the cañon. It is proposed to embody in this paper some 
observations based upon studies at the Geysers during 
the last week in May, 1866. G 
It is, therefore, necessary to pass over, without re- 
mark, the interesting journey thither, and occupy our- 
selves with a description of the Avernus rather than the 
Jacilis descensus. The Avernus of the Æneid seems to 
have been a watering-place of some repute, which was in 
such immediate proximity to the lower regions, and pre- 
sented such great attractions on account of being upon 
the most ti route thither, that the name came, at 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by the ESSEX INSTITUTE, in the 
Clerk’s Office of the District ee of she District of Massachusetts. (ser) 
43 
AMERICAN NAT., VOL. 
