5< 
THE TALLET 3tf AHTTXR-AXjIST. 
represent as being below) western variation. 
This illustrative apparatus shows that the 
indications on the globe are the same as the 
variations on any good magnetic chart, ex- 
cept that as yet, we do not account for the 
anomalies in eastern Seberia and in tropical 
mid Pacific, which may be taken up at some 
future time. 
By taking the globe out of its frame and 
allowing it to rest on its south pole or axis, 
while the north points upward, we can by 
use of a delicate dipping needle, show that 
the marked end of the needle becomes verti- 
cal or nearly so when suspended over the 
arctic circle. 
Other interesting details connected with 
this illustrative apparatus might be given, if 
it were not for making the communication 
too long. 
IMP OB TAN T TO CONTBIBUTOBS. 
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lication day (the first of every month) will 
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printed apart from the general matter, to 
sent to their friends who do not receive the 
Valley Naturalist. This offer will be 
especially convenient for those who contri- 
bute lists of birds, plants, shells, insects, etc., 
from certain localities. All orders must be 
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orders the same day they are received. 
The Hyuienoptera of Bastrop County, 
Texas, as Observed During the Years 
1867-77. 
BY L. HEILIGBRODT, BASTROP, TEXAS. 
(Paper No. 3.) 
Abbreviations: v. c. very common; c. com- 
mon; n. c. not common; r. rare; v. r. very 
rare. Those species which are marked very 
common and part of those marked common 
constitute an essential feature of the insect 
fauna of this part of Texas. 
Bembicidce. 
Bembex calif ornica, Cress, n c 
B. nubilipennis, Cress, r 
B. monodonta, Say. v c 
Monedula Carolina, Fabr. v c 
M. 4t-fasciata, Say. r 
M. centralis, Say. c 
M. formosa, Cress, c 
M. pictifrons, Smith, r 
M. neglecta, Cress, r 
JSfyssonidce: 
Alyson melleus, Say. n c 
Gorytes moneduloides, Pack, n c 
G. rufoluteus, Pack, n c 
Nysson texanus, Cress, n c 
Stizus speciosus, Drury, n c 
JS. texanus, Cress, n c 
JS. fervidus, Cress, r 
Crabronidoe. 
Cerceris fumipennis, Say, c 
C. bicornuta, Guer. c 
C. venator, Cress, c 
C.firma, Cress, c 
C. compacta, Cress, c 
G. Kennicottii, Cress, n c 
Bhilanthus ventilabris, Fabr. c 
P. punctatus, Say. c 
P, dubius, Cress, n c 
Trypoxylon politum, Say. n c 
T. texense, Sauss. v c 
Eumenidce. 
Eumenes Belfragu, Cress, n c 
E. Bollii, Cress, r 
Alonobia quadridens, Linn, v c 
Odynerus clusinus, Cress, v c 
0. verus, Cress, v c 
O.firmus, Cress, v c 
O. foraminatus, Sauss. n c 
O. fulvipes, Sauss. c 
O. fundatus, Cress, c 
O. bellulus, Cress, r 
Bterocliilus b-fasciatus, Say. r 
Bhygchium dorsale, Fabr. c 
[Continued.] 
Flora of Warren County, Missouri. 
BY PROF. J. II . FRICK, CENTRAL WESLEYAN 
COLLEGE, WARRENTON, MO. 
Abbreviations:— c. common; r. rare; v. 
very; a. abundant; g. gardens. 
Bubiacece. 
Galium concinnum, T. & G., cleavers, c 
G. aperine, L. Bedstraw, c 
Compositoe. 
Vernonia fasciculata, Mx., Iron Weed. 
This is found in great abundance on dry 
uplands and is quite troublesome in pastures. 
Eupatorium ageratoides, L. v a 
Aster auzureus. Lindl. 
A. amethystinus, N. 
A, novce-anglim, L. 
A. tradescanti, L. 
Erigeron Canadense, L., White Weed, c 
E. bellidi folium, Muhl., Robin's Plantain, c 
Bellis pereunis, Garden Daisy. 
Solidago canadense, L., Goldenrod, c 
Ambrosia bidentata, Mx., Horse-weed, c 
A. psilostachia, DC, Rag Weed, v c 
Hauthium Strumarium, L., Clot-weed. 
This is a very abundant weed, and is com- 
monly called the "cuckle burr" by the 
farmers. 
Helianthus animus, L. Great Sunflower. 
H. grosse-servatus, Martens. 
Coriopsis aurea, Ait. Tick Seed 
Bidens bipinnata, L. Spanish Needles. 
B. chrysanthemoides, L. Burr-marigold. 
Dysodia chrysanthemoides, Lagasca, False 
Dog- fennel, v c 
Hellenium autumnale, L. 
Authemis cotula, L. Mayweed, this is com- 
monly called dog-fennel, v a 
Achilloea Millifolium, L. Millfoil, Yarrow. 
Leucanthemum Barthenium, Godrou. 
Fever Few. 
Gnaphalium polycephalum, Mx. Everlasting. 
Antennaria plantaginifolia, Br. Mouse-ear 
everlasting, c 
Erechtites hieracifolius, Raf. Fire-weed. 
Senecio aureus, L. Groundsel, c 
>S. lobatus, Pers. Butterweed, c 
Tegetes patula, Frence Marigold. 
T. erecta, African Marigold. 
Cirsium lanceolatum, Scop. Common Thistle 
C. discolor, Spr. c 
Lappa officinalis, Allinoni, Burdock. 
Cynthia Virginica, Dou. 
Hieracium Gronovii, L. Hawkweed. 
Taraxacum Dens rleonis, Less. Dandilion. 
Lactuca Canadensis, L. Trumpet Milkweed. 
L. sativa, Garden Lettuce. 
Lobeliacece. 
Lobelia amoena, Mx. 
L. inilala, L. Indian Tobacco. 
[Continued.] 
The Utilization of Weeds. 
Ralph Waldo Emerson has described weeds 
as plants whose use has not been discovered. 
Too often men are content to call a plant a 
weed and then proceed to exterminate it 
without making any attempt to find out its 
possible uses. An Indian writer, Mr. Geo. 
W. Strettell, considers from his experience 
gained in the Indian Forest Department that 
a large revenue might be derived from such 
plants, especially those yielding fiber — plants 
which require no care in cultivation, which 
will grow in land utterly unsuited to any 
other crops, and which yield fiber practically 
proved to be well adapted to the manufac- 
ture of paper and textile fabrics. He advo- 
cates the cultivation, at first if need be ex- 
perimentally, and on a small scale, of several 
different plants, and especially of one, the 
Calotropis gigantea. The fiber of this plant 
has been pronounced by paper makers and 
manufacturers of textile fabrics as excellent; 
and he show's convincingly that after allow- 
ing for the cost of cultivation and of extract- 
ing the fiber, the raw material might be sold 
at such a price as to add considerably to the 
Imperial revenue. 
Next to the discovery of plants yielding 
products now in demand for industrial or 
medical purposes, we may rank the inven- 
tion of new uses for the products of plants 
now considered useless. But a small portion 
of the vegetable world has yet been made 
tributary to man ; and from past experience 
it is safe to predict that even the most nox- 
ious of weeds may yet prove to be of the 
highest utility. — [Sci. Am. 
Meteorological Report of Monticello, 
Jones County, Iowa. 
BY M. M. MOCJLTON, MONTICELLO, IOWA, 
The temperature for the month of Septem- 
ber, has been about normal. The first half 
was quite dry and the last half was quite wet. 
The highest temperature reached for the 
