314 The American Naturalist. [April, 



cacece, 20. In the last named family the name Qymnochilus is substi- 

 tuted for Psathyra of Fries (1821) which must fall, since it is identical 

 with Commerson's Psathura (Juss. Gen. ,1789). In the Pezizacece the 

 name Lachuea Fries (1822), being identical with Lachuan L. (Sp. PL, 

 1753), must give way to Sepultaria Cooke (1879).— Charles E. Bes- 

 sey. 



Alaskan Botany.— In the Contributions from the U. S. National 

 Herbarium (Vol. HI, No. 6), F. V. Coville makes a report upon 

 the collections of plants made on Yakutat Bay, Alaska, in 1892, 

 by Frederick Funston. Mr. Coville's paper is preceded by a Field 

 Keport made by Mr. Funston. The latter contains much in- 

 teresting information as to the country and its vegetation. In 

 regard to the latter the author says, " The plant life of the region 

 about Yakutat Bay is characterized by the dense and vigorous growth 

 of a comparatively small number of species, giving the forests espe- 

 cially an appearance of great sameness. The almost level country 

 lying on the eastern side of the bay, between Ocean Cape and the foot- 

 hills of the mountains, is covered with a forest growth practically im- 

 penetrable. The great amount of fallen timber, together with 

 the tangled and heavy undergrowth constitute such obstacles to 

 travel that even the Indians who have lived here many years have 

 never penetrated the forests of the mainland for a mile from their own 

 village. The great bulk of this forest is composed of the Sitka Spruce 

 (Picea sitchensis), which in this region reaches a height of seventy feet. 

 This tree extends from sea level to an altitude of 2,200 feet on the 

 sides of Mt. Tebenkof ; but as one follows the coast line up the bay 

 from this mountain, the upper limit becomes lower and lower, until at 

 the entrance of Disenchantment Bay it reaches sea level, the tree not 

 being found on the shore of this bay. A large forest lies along Dalton 

 Creek, and there are several of considerable extent between this place 

 and Point Manby." 



"The timber of the spruce tree plays a most important part in the 

 economy of the natives, as from it are constructed their houses and 

 canoes, and it is used in the manufacture of oil crates, bows, arrows 

 and other implements, while the smaller roots after being boiled and 

 split are used in basket weaving." 



The other woody plants mentioned are the hemlock (Tmga mertm- 

 sriana), Sitka cypress (Chamceeyparis nootkatensis), red alder (Alnus 

 rubra), a willow (Salix barclayi), the elder (Sambiicus racemosa), the 

 Menziesia I . high bush cranberry (Minimum 



pmtciflorurn), the blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium), salmon berry 



