36 
LORQUINIA 
the mandible and the cranium, is, in these animals, firmly attached to 
the cranium. 
From birds downward we find this bone showing all degrees of 
attachment to the cranium. The quadrate bone originates from the 
proximal end of Meckel's cartilage which, in turn had its origin trom 
the first gU-arch. When it disappears, as it does in mammals, it be- 
comes the anvil of the middle ear. 
In frogs, toads and salamanders many interesting modifications oc- 
cur which we cannot now discuss. 
Primitive extinct reptiles show striking resemblance to the am- 
phibians of their day, but in recent forms there is to be seen a more 
definite separation of the two groups. A further discussion of these 
variations would be out of place at this time because it would involve 
too much technicality. I would refer the reader to Zittel's Paleon- 
tology for a careful analysis of the transitional forms of the border- 
land between the reptiles and amphibians. 
In their day the reptiles were dominant in the three elements — 
land, water and air — an^' their whole bony structure, including the 
skulls, were modified to meet the varying necessities. The mechanical 
problems involved in the structure of the volant reptiles is a most in- 
teresting study. For this I refer the reader to Seeley's little book 
"Dragons of the Air." Dr. F. C. Clark. 
SOME CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS 
One of the most sought-after Christmas greens in Southern Cal- 
ifornia is the Christmas Berry or so-called Christmas Holly (Hete- 
roineles arhutifolia (Poir.) Roem.). The magnificent clusters of scar- 
let berries against the rich green of the leaves makes one of the finest 
contrasts in our flora. The plant is in no^ way related to the true 
Holly of the Eastern states, but belongs to the great Rose family. It 
gets its name of ''Holly" from the berries rather than from the plant 
itself. It makes a very handsome plant in cultivation, the only draw- 
back being that its much-sought berries of¥er a great attraction to 
trespassers. These berries are of a rather pleasant, acid-astringent 
taste and are eaten by the Indians with great relish. The Spanish 
Californians used them in the preparation of an agreeable drink. 
One might get the effect of real Holly very easily by combining 
Vv^ith the Christmas berry the foliage of the Oregon Grape (Berberis 
dictyota Jepson). This is a low shrub having compound spinescent 
leaves and blue-black berries. It is found on dry ridges in the San 
Gabriel mountains. 
Of course, Christmas would hardly be Christmas without the 
Mistletoe, of which we have two species, Fhoradendron villosiim Nitt. 
