682 BOTANY. 
contrary to what one would anticipate, and the waders number 
only six species. Seven hummingbirds are reported, five being 
given by Mr. Lawrence on the authority of Capt. J. Xantus. 
The list is hence evidently more or less. incomplete, Col. Grayson 
mentioning only such as he actually obtained or observed. Unfor- 
tunately no dates are given in the notes, and we are hence left in 
doubt as to the season of occurrence of the birds mentioned. 
Socorro Island was visited twice by Col. Grayson, but the chief 
part of his collections there seems to have been made during the 
last ten days of May, 1867. The list embraces fourteen species, 
only five of which were found at the Tres Marias. Several appear 
to be known as yet only from this island,* and others only from 
this and the Tres Marias, though each has near relatives on the 
Mexican main. Among those of special interest obtained here 
were several specimens of Whitney’s owl ( Micrathene Whitneyt 
Coues) known formerly only from the single specimen obtained 
Dr. Cooper at Fort Mohave, in 1861, but since found also at 
Mazatlan by Grayson, and in Arizona by Bendire. | 
The itinerary + given of Col. Grayson’s voyages on these expedi- 
tions conveys a vivid picture of the dangers as well as annoyance, 
to which the enthusiastic naturalist is often exposed in the pursuit 
of his treasures. Though shipwrecked at Socorro, he seems not 
to have been daunted in his explorations, but extending his 
researches to other localities, he fell a victim to a fever contract : 
while collecting at the Isabel Islands, in the summer of 1869.{ 
To Col. Grayson ornithologists are chiefly indebted for our present 
knowledge of the ornithological fauna of northwestern Mexico, 
and in his death science lost a devotee of rare zeal and industry. 
A.A 
BOTANY. 
Law or ANGuLAR DIVERGENCE IN THE BRANCHES OF PLANTS” 
Mr. Thomas Meehan said that of all the problems that faced p 
botanist, few seemed more impenetrable than the law whit ee 
erned the angular divergence in the branches of plants. Sam 
grew quite prostrate and others, though closely allied species 
might be strictly erect. At the present season of the year 
* See Ann. Lyc. Nat. Hist. N. Y. x, pp. 1-18, March, 1871. P 
t Also published in the Overland Monthly,” September, 
ł See “ Overland Monthly,” February, 1870. 
we may — 
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