14 BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SOUTHERN UTAH. 



ulated by and under the perfect control of one will, that is felt in 

 every curve and line. There is some likeness to the thousand per- 

 sonal activities of a regiment seen on their " winding way." And 

 all this perfection of control of so many and complicated activities 

 is true, whether a serpent like an ogre be crushing its victim's 

 bones, or as a limbless posturist be going through its inimitable 

 evolutions. In our thinking a serpent ranks as a paradox among 

 animals. There is so much seeming contradiction. At one time 

 encoiling its prey as in iron bands ; again assuming the immov- 

 able posturing of a statue ; then melting into movements so intri- 

 .cate and delicate that the lithe or limbless thing looks like gossa- 

 mer incarnate. In this creature all the unities seem to be set aside. 

 Such weakness, and such strength; such gentleness, and suchvin- 

 dietiveness ; so much of beauty, and yet so repulsive ; fascination 

 and terror:— what need of wonder that whether snake or python, 

 the serpent should so figure in the myths of all the ages, and the 

 literature of the whole world ! Yes, in the best, and the worst 

 thinkings of men ! 



BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SOUTHERN 

 UTAH, IN 1874. I. 



The hastily gathered collection of plants made by Fremont on 

 his adventurous return trip from California, in the spring of 1844, 

 contained quite a number of remarkable new forms, from the little 

 known district adjoining the valley of the Virgen, then included 

 in the Mexican Territory of Upper California. Several of these 

 newly discovered plants, as far as the imperfect material allowed, 

 were described by Dr. Torrey and Prof. Gray, in Fremont's Re- 

 port, "Plantae Fremontianne," and other scientific publications. 

 Subsequently the inaccessibility of the country, and the hostile 

 character of the Indian tribes occupying this district, prevented 

 for a time farther botanical researches. With the growth of Mor- 

 mon settlement gradually extending southward from Salt Lake, 

 the obstacles to exploration were in great measure removed and 

 the valley of the Virgen lay along the line of one of the travelled 

 routes to southern California. During this period, late in the year 



