132 The West American Scientist 



three spines on either side, the posterior two removed 

 from the anterior one. Two small spines above posterior part 

 of each eye. Mouth large, maxillary reaching to below anterior 

 margin ol pupil, 3^ in head. Both jaws with bands of teeth, 

 the outer anterior ones recurved. Vomer and palatines with 

 smaller teeth. A barbel on either side of the lower jaw about as 

 long as the pupil. 



Origin of spinous dorsal above the posterior portion of the 

 opercle, its end above the origin of the anal. Caudal broad 

 rounded, Ventrals reaching to second anal ray. Pectoral very 

 broad, reaching the fifth anal ray. A narrow stripe along base 

 of anal naked; head?. Prickles along the lateral line enlarged, 

 forming two series of spinelets along its anterior portion; 34 pairs 

 of strong recurved spines along the sides ol the back. 



Sides ashy with scattered rusty spots; a series of conspicuous 

 purple spots below the lateral line; lower surface white; dorsal 

 and caudal marked with rusty bars. 



40. *Brachiopsis sp. ? Fragments of the tail from stomach 

 of some rock cod. 



41. Porichthys margaritatus (Richardson.) A number 

 taken from the stomachs of rock cod. 



42. Otophidium taylori (Girard.) Many small specimens 

 from stomachs of various rock cods; two large ones from stom- 

 achs of S. carnatus. 



43. Paralichthys californicus (Ayres.) One small 

 specimen much digested. 



44. ? One specimen, all but the 

 caudal digested beyond recognition, the caudal well preserved, 

 black, a white spot near its middle, its margin white. 



FLORA OF THE ALAMO. 



I write these notes on the back of my horse while it slowlyfol - 

 lows the well beaten trail to Alamo and Mexican Gulch, Baja 

 California. A landscape gardner might here gather a few ideas 

 by noting the contrasts and shades of coloring presented in the 

 foliage of the native vegetation. 



The light pea green of the finely divided even foliage of the 

 deer brush (Adenostoma sparsifolium) forms a strong contrast 

 with its congener, A. fasciculatum, which is clothed in a dark, 

 olive green. Both are evergreens. Each groups itself separately 

 and naturally, and covers large areas of contiguous land, and are 

 as characteristic of the country and as beautiful as the heaths ot 

 the old world, which they somewhat resemble. 



Only recently the deer brush, so called because deer are said 

 to be fond of browsing on its tender branches, was covered with 

 a multitude ol delicate sprays of pure white flowers, now turned 

 to a light chocolate brown in its fruiting state. 



The shaggy bark is of a cherry red color, which adds consid- 



