for making “artificial lightning.” If 
blown into the air they form a fine 
dust, which, on being ignited, goes 
off with a flash. 
Mr. F. Hamp informs us that he 
found a # white-flowered specimen of 
the wild flax (Linum perenne) in 
Puebio county. It is nn: a common 
variety in Colorado, although the blue 
flowers of this plant are common and 
conspicuously beautiful in summer 
time m many parts of the state, in- 
cluding Custer county. ‘ In parts of 
British America the white variety is 
said to be the ordinary form. 
We recently found eighteen species 
of shells in the refuse thrown up bv 
Muddy Creek, at Kremmling, in 
Grand county. At least one of them 
is new to the State fauna, and several 
have not been found before in Grand 
county. 
A Mirage was seen at sun-set on 
Saturday, the 8th inst. The trees a- 
long Swift creek appeared greatly 
elongated and twice their natural size, 
while the distant prairie and horizon 
appeared to be in a wave like motion. 
The fungus known a?, ergot was 
found on a wild grass by Short Creek, 
Custer county, this year, but not in 
any great quantity. If it is much eat- 
en by cattle it causes gangrene of the 
feet, known as “ergotism.” 
Smut (another parasitic fun^is) ap- 
pears to have been less prevalent this 
year than last.in Wet Mountain valley. 
being freed from the attack. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
We are informed on apparently 
good authority that the wild Moun- 
tain goat used to exist in Middle Park. 
Has ar.y one seen them there of late 
years, or in any other part of the state? 
Mr. Coverly reports a number of 
hybreds between the Grey wolf and 
the dog, as existing on Piney River, 
in Eagle county. This cross (Canis 
Occidentals x familiaris) is not a com- 
mon one, so the occutrence of several 
in a wild state is of great interest. 
Varieties of the black tailed deer 
arc not common, but a perfectly black 
example is reported this fall from 
Ptnev River, but it is said that an al- 
bino was found some years ago near 
Canon City. 
It is a much disputed point whether 
or not the genuine Silver fox (the skin 
of which is worth over $50) is found 
in Colorado. We are assured that a 
specimen was taken in Gilpin county, 
but it is quite a question whether the 
Cross fox was not mistaken for it. 
Wolverine are probably not so rare 
in Colorado as has been supposed. 
Information has just been received of 
their occurrence in Gilpin and Eagle 
icounties. 
Lt Mr. W. C. Roby . sends a specimen 
Hf “club moss” (Lycopodium annoti- 
Kum) from Holy Cross, Eagle county, 
vhich is a new locality for it. The 
yellow spores of this plant are used 
