j8 The West American Scientist. 



traveler is safe if he knows how to search successfully for it, for 

 once found he need not fear either hunger or thirst. 



During January we experienced very cool nights and usually 

 found ice every morning at Coyote Wells. Vegetation was con- 

 sequently very backward and few flowers wers seen. Forests of 

 ironwood, mesquite, palo verde and other trees were found not 

 far away, and some beautiful country was traversed. Game was 

 plenty. Antelope, deer, mountain sheep, quail, rabbits and coy- 

 otes are to be found between the Cocopa Mountains and the main 

 range of the peninsula, and, not being accustomed to being 

 hunted, they were comparatively easy to approach. Lake Ma- 

 quata, the mythical lake west of the Cocopa Range, was dry. 

 Four years before it was full of water, the overflow of the Colo- 

 rado River, and teeming with millions of fish. Its dry banks and 

 beds are now strewn with the bones of fish that were evidently 

 fully two feet in length, on which the coyote feasted for many 

 a day. 



Oyster shells as large as dinner plates, now turned to stone 

 are to be found in the low clay and sand hills. Large mounds of 

 smaller oyster shells, several hundred feet in height, exist near the 

 Carisso Creek, and prove conclusively that this basin was once a 

 great inland sea. Vast quarries of beautiful marble, the finest 

 sandstones for building purposes, and excellent granite exist among 

 the surrounding hills. What wealth of precious minerals exists 

 beneath the weather-stained rocks we may never know. Of this 

 we can be certain, however, that this great region is yet destined 

 to be of service to mankind, and it may support a great popula- 

 tion and supply our tables with the horticultural products ot the 

 tropics. C. R. Orcutt. 



LINES FOR AN ALBUM OF SEA ALGsE. 



A hint of the beautiful plants, 



That grace the blue waves of the sea; 



Just fragments adrift from the shore, 

 Are gathered my dear, here for thee. 



The algae, alive and aglow, 



Sparkling, dripping with the salt spray, 

 In their own bright ocean home, 



Make a brilliant and free display. 



And as much more graceful are they, 



Than the dry, dim specimens here; 



So much more the love of my heart, 



Than words can assure thee, my dear. 



E. E. 



