1890.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 1223 
Many animals live in the caves formed by the lava bubbles, there being 
hundreds and thousands of these. 
The Snake River cuts into the lava field to a depth of 800 feet. 
The cliffs are of black lava, very dark, and make the cafion look 
deeper than it really is. The cliffs are frequently perpendicular, and 
are without vegetation. The lava rests upon a limestone. Sho- 
shone Falls was referred to as very grand and beautiful, the water 
falling in one drop 210 feet, but having a total fall of 250 feet. 
A few miles above is another fall 175 feet high, and many cascades 
and rapids render the river unnavigable. Where vegetation is 
possible on the lava beds it consists almost entirely of sage bush 
(Artemesia tridentata) and several species of the so-called grease- 
wood. Many springs are found along the base of the cliffs in 
the cafion, the water of these being relatively warm. Some of them 
are very large ; four or five are even twenty feet across. 
Among the insects is one known as the '* Idaho Devil," about two 
and one-half inches long, as large as one’s finger, and with a large 
head. It is extremely ferocious. Ants are also abundant. Some of 
them build nests or hills five or six feet high, made entirely of sticks, 
all of the same size and length ; other kinds make hills of stones, these 
being also all of the same size. The ants hibernate in cold weather. 
A few birds are found, the most abundant being the sage sparrow. 
Mountain mocking birds, magpies, ravens, eagles, burrowing owls, 
ground doves, rock wrens, and cafion wrens also are found. The last, 
though only about as long as one’s finger, has a piercing cry that can 
be heard several miles. 
Among animals, coyotes and rabbits abound ; of the latter there are 
four or five species. In the cafions in winter antelope and black-tailed 
deer are found, while panthers, badgers, wood-rats, mice, porcupines, 
and others live in the cafion all the year. Horned toads and rattle- 
snakes also frequently occur. 
Mr. Theodor Holm spoke of the vegetative reproduction of Dicen- 
tra cucullaria. This plant is peculiar from having at the base a num- 
ber of round, bulb-like bodies, which have been generally described as 
tubers. ‘They are not really such, but are buds, producing late in 
summer or early fall, from a small depression at one end, a branch 
with several leaves. They are in one sense equivalent to the bulbous 
bases which the leaves of certain species of plants have. 
Dr. W. H. Dall made some remarks upon the paleontology of the 
northwest coast of the United States. Certain specimens of Tertiary 
fossils in the collections of the Wilkes Exploring Expedition were 
Am. Nat.—December.—8. 
