1881.] Editors’ Table. 987 
flowers, with pinnate leaves, hairy and procumbent stem, and is 
one of the most attractive flowers of the region. The %uglans 
rupestris grows sparingly along the roads, aad a tall Acacia (A. 
hirta ?) with a straight branching stem, round bunches of white 
flowers and finely pinnate leaves, is quite common. 
These are some of the plants which, in a short period of time, 
and at an unfavorable season of the year, can be found in the 
vicinity of this, one of the oldest settlements of America. I have 
by no means noticed all the species collected there, for I have not 
yet had an opportunity to identify them, and there are no doubt 
Many more species to be found by one spending a year at the 
place. I have been informed by those who know, that during the 
Summer rains many plants spring up, bloom for a short time and 
disappear for the remainder of the year. Among the species to be 
found here are doubtless many which are Mexican forms; but 
this is nothing strange, for the whole of the flora of Southern 
California, Arizona and New Mexico belongs to the Mexican 
region. The climate and geographical features of all are very 
Sirailar ; dry and barren plateaus and mountains, where little rain 
ever falls and where the heat in summer is very intense; with few 
Streams to water the soil, and these few having an uncertain ex- 
istence, the beds being nearly dry the greater part. of the year. 
Cloud bursts, waterspouts and sand storms are characteristic of 
the whole country, and any division which can be made will 
place Upper Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and Southern Cali- 
fornia in the same zodlogical and botanical region. 
ot 9 Oe 
EDITORS’ TABLE. 
EDITORS: A. S. PACKARD, JR., AND E. D. COPE. 
—— The scope and aim of the biological sciences are em- 
braced by their two great primary divisions, phylogeny and physi- 
ology. Phylogeny states the history and manner of the creation 
of beings possessed of life, while physiology exposes the forces 
which are active in creation and other functions of life, and sets 
forth their modus operandi. 
All biological research contributes to one or the other of these 
departments. There are two branches essential to the develop- 
ment of phylogeny, viz: embryology and paleontology. The 
_ €ssential preliminary to both of these sciences is, of course, — 
