jo The West American Scientist. 



specifically distinct from A. purshii, Dougl. If the flowers are 

 actually red as the dried specimen indicates, it might be desig- 

 nated as: Astragalus purshii, Dough, var. (?)coccineus. 



C. C. Party. 



GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY A AD PALAEONTOLOGY 



Sonorous Sand. — From the advance proofs of a paper in 

 press, we learn that Drs. H. C. Bolton and A. A. Julien have 

 arrived at the conclusion that 'the true cause of sonorousness in 

 the sands of singing beaches and of deserts to be connected with 

 thin pellicles or films of air, or of gases thence derived, depos- 

 ited and condensed upon the suriace of the sand grains during 

 gradual evaporation after wetting by the seas, lakes or by rains.' 

 Further, Dr. Bolton says (Researches on sonorous sand in the 

 peninsula of Sinai): 



. 'By virtue of these films the sand grains become separated by 

 elastic cushions of condensed gases, capable of considerable vi- 

 bration, and whose thickness we have approximately determined. 

 The extent of the vibration and the volume and pitch of the 

 sound thereby produced, after any quick disturbance of the sand 

 we also find to be largely dependent upon the forms, structures 

 and surfaces of the sand grains, and especially upon their purity 

 or freedom from fine silt or dust. 



'Though the environment of the sand on beaches and in the 

 desert differs greatly as respects moisture, we believe that the 

 above theory is applicable to both. Statistics of rainfall in the 

 desert are wanting, but the experiences of travelers and my owe 

 observations show that rain falls, in the winter months, abunn 

 dantly in many parts of the peninsula.' 



We suggest to our readers on the Pacific Coast (at the desire 

 of Dr. Bolton) that those who have observed the occurrence of 

 sonorous sand on the seashore or in the interior, report the facts 

 in our pages. Kindly give exact locality, date of observation, 

 and any details as to loudness, etc., thought desirable and due 

 credit will be given by Drs. Bolton and Julien in the volume they 

 are preparing for the press on musical sand. 



BOTANY AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE. 



Plants from Baja California. — This paper (reprinted from 

 Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci., Ser. 2, Vol. II., pp. 118-232) by T. S. 

 Brandegee, with supplementary papers by Drs. Geo. Vasey, L. 

 F. Millspaugh, H. W. Harkness, and others, is one of the most 

 valuable contributions to West American botany that has lately 

 appeared. Mr Brandegee reached the region known as Mag- 

 dalena Bay, Lower California, on January 11, 1889, and traveled 

 northward over the mountain trail to San Quintin bay. As was 

 to be expected he reaped a rich harvest, and we gain a better 



