The Valley Naturalist. 
it 
Established January, 1878. 
(NATUR/E DISCERE MORES.) 
Henry SKaer, PnDlisM- 
Volume I. 
SAINT LOUIS, MO., JANUARY, 1878. 
Number 1. 
THE 
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Address, 
HENRY SKAER, Publisher, 
1 313 South Sixth Street, SA INT L O UIS. 
It is with no little diffidence that we issue 
this, our first number of the Yalley Nat- 
uralist. Its object is to aid the diffusion of 
natural science in a popular form, and to fur- 
nish a medium of recording the observations 
of our Western Amateur Naturalists. 
"We are aware that there are many scientific 
paper* iu tbe East, in which a Naturalist can 
pulusa the results of his observations, but 
I'L-u c; k next wt»i""; 1_,e far-n ?;>l»t'"\the m>i;ny: 
minor notes that every working Naturalist 
daily makes, and which, for this reason, how- 
ever interesting they may be, often remain 
forever buried in the note -book of the ob- 
server. 
Instead, then, of wishing to set up as a ri- 
val to our Eastern brethren, we wish to be 
considered rather as aiding and supplement- 
ing their good work. The paper is not ex- 
pected to pay pecuniarily, nor perhaps to 
have more than a local circulation. We in- 
tend to enlarge it whenever our subscription 
list will justify the expense 
Naturalists, we hope, will aid us both by 
subscribing and contributing articles for 
publication. A limited space shall be devot- 
ed to Advertisements, for the benefit of those 
who may have for sale or exchange books, 
collections, etc., of interest to the scientific 
reader. Articles for publication and sub- 
scriptions should be send to the publisher, 
Henry Skaer, 1213 South Sixth Street, Saint 
Louis, Mo. 
Albino Opossum. 
Ed. TJie Valley Naturalist: 
I have recently procured a specimen of 
pure albino Opossum (Didelphis virginiana), 
full grown and well developed. It was taken 
in the vicinity of Ednia, Knox County, Mo,. 
As such freaks of nature are of rare occur- 
ance, I transmit the fact for what interest it 
may contain. Kespectfully, 
3 M. TANDY. 
Dallas City, III., Dec. 24, '77. 
To Correspondents. 
All communications for this paper should 
be accompanied by the name of the author, 
not necessarily for publication, but as evi- 
dence of good ! aith on the part of the writer. 
Write only on one side of the paper. Be par- 
ticularly careful to write the scientific names 
plain 
Articles for publication may be accompa- 
nied with small sketches or outlines of 
insects, plants or leaves, etc., which we will 
have engraved for publication. All contribu- 
tions should be sent to us two weeks before 
publication day, which is understood to be 
the first of the month, if sketches accompany 
the articles, they should be send four weeks 
before publication day, as it takes an im- 
mense space of time to engrave them. Cor- 
respondents wanted in every State. 
We shall take pleasure in naming any 
specimens of plants and insects sent by cor- 
respondents. Persons who have already sent 
or may hereafter send small collections of 
specimens to be named, will please inform 
us if any of the species sent are from other 
States than their own. Lists of species found 
in any particular locality are of especial inter- 
est, as throwing light upon the geographical 
distribution of species. But to make them 
of real value, it is requisite that we know for 
certain whether or not all the specimens in 
aw particular list c< me from that particular 
ue. 
The Geological Formation of ij-aSalle 
County, andtbeir Organic Remains. 
We have just received a sixteen page 
pamphlet, published by William Wirt Cal- 
kins, of Chicago, 111. Containing a descrip- 
tion of the Quaternatory system, the Carbon- 
iferous and Silurian formations of LaSalle 
County, III. Also a list of species of the or- 
ganic remains of said county. 
A New Genus of Aphidee. 
On another page we reprint from the 
" Canadian Entomologist," a new genus of 
Aphidee described by Mr. J. Monell, of the 
Missouri Botanical Gardens, located at this 
city. Mr. Monell has just discovered another 
genus, which he has named orthoneura. We 
hope he will kindly furnish his many friends 
and the readers of the Yalley Naturalist, 
through its columns, with an illustrated 
description of it. 
Kentucky Blus Grass. 
Last spring an insect was reported to do 
considerable damage in the blue-grass region 
of Kentucky, since then we have not- heard 
anything more about it. If some gentleman 
would kindly furnish us with a description 
of it for publication, we would be greatly in- 
debted to him. 
To Advertisers. 
As an advertising medium, this paper has 
no equal. Persons having collections for 
sale will find it to their interest to advertise 
them in this paper, as it reaches every natur- 
alist in the United States and Canada. 
The atiention of publisher* of scientific 
works and book-sellers is respectfully called, 
as this is the best medium for advertising 
books " in press," or lists of books for sale 
by them. 
In our next issue we shall establish a "want 
and exchange" column, for the benefit of 
those who may want to exchange insects, 
plants, bird-skins, books, reports, etc. The 
price for insertions under this head, will be 
ten cents per line, (from five to seven words 
to the line,) for each insertion. 
Botanical Monstrosity. 
We have recently received some monstrous 
apple-flowers collected by Prof. Leigh, of 
New York. There may be seen on turning 
down the five minute, pointed, sepal-like or- 
gans, into which the petals are transformed^ 
the fifteen pistils enclosed. The outer ten 
extra pistils form a ten-celled, superior core, 
and the five regular pistils, within, extend 
down through them to the regular five-celled 
ovary below. 
The number of petals is occasions, lly but 
four, and 'be f'Mi • ;\vry from twelve to fif- 
k>.c the presence of $be \ ^ir- c'jtra pistils, ex- 
cept to consider them as transformed from 
the twenty missing stamen; this is however 
contrary to analogy, as transformations of 
this sort rarely ever occur in other plants. 
The original tree is quite old, and is unfor- 
tunately in a dying condition. Grafts have 
however, been made, so that this peculiar 
monstrosity will not be lost to science by the 
death of the original tree. It has been sug- 
gested that the fruit may also have an econ- 
omic value, as, in an orchard away from oth- 
er apple trees, blooming at the same time, 
the large, early fall cooking apples would 
probably be quite seedless. J. M. 
Persons receiving copies of the Natur- 
alist who are not subscribers, will please 
regard it as an invitation to subscribe. From 
all interested in natural science we earnestly 
solicit a subscription. With your aid, we 
hope soon to be able to enlarge the natur~ 
alist to double its present size. 
Plantago Major.— Some very interesting 
remarks on this genus occur in the first vol. 
of the " Botanical Gazette." We have noticed 
the branching spikes of this species at St. Louis 
for several years past. In one locality, a few 
miles west of this city, plants with the 
branched spikes, were far more numerous 
than the normal form. J, M. 
