deserts and plains of Utah, Nevada, Western Colorado, New Mex- 

 ico, Arizona and southwestward to Lower California, and may 

 hence' be appropriately termed the Campestrian Region. The an- 

 nual rainfall is generally below fifteen inches, but ranges, at dif- 

 ferent localities, from three inches to twenty. Here a general 

 paleness of color is the distinctive feature The fifth region be- 

 gins .on, the Pacific Const at about the -10th parallel, embracing a 

 comparatively narrow bolt along the coast from Northern Cali- 

 fornia to Sitka. Its peculiarities are most strongly developed 

 45° ; they also prevail east- 

 lin of the Rockv Mountains. 



he Rocky Mountains presents features that may almost entitle it 

 o rank as a distinct region, as might also the region of maximum 

 ainfall in the Mississippi Region. The sou! hern half of Florida 

 3 also perhaps entitled to recognition as a distinct region, being 

 haracterized by excessive humidity and a subtropical intensity of 

 olor. It may also be necessary eventually to recognize as dis- 

 inct districts the almost rainless portions of the Campestrian 



oking at the subject in this broad way the reader need 

 rprised at the suppression of a good many nominal spe- 

 L857 Professor Baird reduced the number of species of 

 >m twenty-four to ten, with two doubtful ones; Mr. 

 reduces them to Jive, with seven geographical varieties 

 i. The number of North American species of Sciuridse 



BOTANY. 



The Starch ov Zamia. — The roots of Zamia pumila yield a 

 large per cent, of starch. The plant grows abundantly at the 

 head of Biscayne Bay, Florida. I also found it, though not abun- 

 dantly, at New Smyrna and Cedar Keys, Florida. The soil at the 

 head of Biscayne Bay is full of loose pieces of limy rocks ; between 

 the interstices of these the plant grows ; this kind of soil suits it 

 best. The leaves have the general appearance of ferns ; its roots 

 are rough, of a gray color, and of the shape and size of parsnips. 

 Not only is it abundantly reproduced from seed, but any piece 

 left in the ground grows. It could be cultivated and made prof- 

 itable. 



