The Death of Leconte, in 883, Was of John Lawrence Leconte And

160 PS [January x898. first entomological paper was entitled in either series are to be ranked as Descriptions of new North American synonyms. Coleoptera in the cabinet of the Ento- With but little interest in, and mological society of Philadelphia' and hardly enough appreciation or even was published in the Proc. acad. nat. toleration for, many lines of study, sci. Phila., for 86o, p. 569-57 t. In Horn's monographic work stands with the beginning his original work shows the very best of his time, and though unmistakably his inexperience, but his the death of Leconte, in 883, was great keenness and a true appreciation of considered a calamity to his special the structural differences that character- branch of science, it may well be ize species soon became manifest, and is doubted if the death of Horn in i897 evident in most of his future publica- is not a greater loss. Leconte left a tions. Dr. Horn was a rapid, accurate well-equipped successor in. Horn, but worker, a painstaking and careful delin- the successor of Horn is not yet appar- eator. His contributions number more ent, and to be worthy of the place must than 5o important papers, in addition follow closely along the lines so clearly to very many nainor notes; in these marked out by the well-directed labors papers about t5 genera and more than of John Lawrence Leconte and George r55o species are defined, and very few Henry Horn. PACIFIC COAST COLLECTING.I. BY ALBERT PITTS MORSE, WELLESLEY, MASS. At the suggestion and with the co6p- weeks were devoted to the task it was eration of Mr. Samuel H. Scudder of found impossible to do more than make Cambridge, Mass., I undertook last a cursory examination of the most summer a collecting trip to the Pacific important points directly on the through Coast of the United States to secure the line of the railroad, and a few short Orthoptera inhabiting the region be- side-trips to places that promised well. tween the Sierra Nevada mountains and Had it been possible I should have vis- the sea: At his request I have put ited several more .points situated in less together a few notes which may prove accessible but very interesting localities. of interest to entomologists contemplat- The same amount of time could be ing a trip to that part of the country. profitably spent upon a much smaller Of course, so great an extent of ter- area. Unless it be necessary to exam- ritory could be examined but superfi- ine, however hastily, a large field the cially in one summer, but even this had best method is to remain in each locality never been done with special reference visited until its various features are to the Orthopter.a. And although twelve adequately covered. January i898.] PS T'CtI.E. 161 Route. My route was as follows: Valley, which would be $25 to $35 Leaving Boston July 2I an all too brief more. An additional $5 or $oo will stay of a few hours in Washington add greatly to the traveler's comfort and enabled me to secure valuable sugges- the enjoyment of the trip. The expense tions from people more or less familiar of a collecting tour of course depends with the country to be traversed. From on the amount and character of the ter- thence my route led by way of Atlanta ritory examined, the time spent at each and New Orleans direct to E1 Paso, stopping-place, and the style of living. Tex., from which point I paid a short The best ticket is the nine months' visit to Prof. Cockerell at Mesilla, N. " Pacific Coast Excursion," allowing M., in the midst of an exceptionally rich sixty days to reach the coast, and nine and interesting fauna. Returning to El months for return to point of depar- Paso an all-day ride carried me to Yuma, ture, with privilege of stop-over within Ariz., which was reached July 4" From these periods anywhere on the route this point northward stops were made west of certain points. Tickets for at relatively short intervals, effort being side-trips should not be bought till made for as great a variety of physical needed, as advantage may often be taken and climatic conditions as possible con- of temporary reductions. Local rail- sistet with economy of time and money, road fares vary from 3 to 6 cents a mile, from one to three days being spent in a stage fares from o to 45 cents. place with side trips when it seemed In traveling across the continent a advisable. Two months were spent in berth in a Tourist" sleeper (second- California, the clief points touched class) rnay be had for about one-third being San Bernardino, Los Angeles, the cost of one in the regular first-class San Diego, Yosemite Valley, San Pullman and is fairly comfortable. Francisco, and Mr. Shasta. Oregon Meals en route a.t hotels and in dining- was reached Sept. 6 and several stops cars average 75 cents each. Rates at made along the line of the railroad and the railroad hotels range from Se to $4 side-trips to Mary's Peak and Hood a day. In most towns accommodations River. Washington was barely touched may be secured for $ to $.z5 a day. at three points, when, the weather be- In Los Angeles and San Francisco coming unfavorable, I left the coast excellent meals may be had for " two Sept. 3o, returning via the Canadian bits" (5 c.). Sometimes high-priced Pacific railroad. houses have a low rate that may be Expense. A three months' trip of secured on application. If a stop of this kind from Boston back to Boston several days at a central point is con- may be made, with strict economy, for templated it is usually best to engage a $4oo from New York or Washington room by the week and take meals where proportionately less, not including most convenient. At railroad stations transportation to and from the Yosemite where there are no hotels one may 162 PS UCtt2. [January 898. usually secure meals at least at the sec- especially when traveling by team or tion-houses, and if blankets are carried stage on much-used roads, e. g., to the may sleep out with comfort almost any- Yosemite Valley. where. To reach points in unsettled Temyberature. To the northerner districts it is often necessary to go with the climate of southern California in an " outfit" consisting of pack and midsummer is liable to prove trying. saddle animals. These, with guides, Personally I felt no inconvenience until may generally be secured at hotels or the mercury reached IO to 115 in the livery stables at prices proportionate to shade. In these circumstances every- the labor involved and the service ren- thing, even growing plants and sub- dered, ranging from St to $5 a day for stances otherwise invariably cool, was animals and Sz to $IO tbr guides. uncomfortably warm to the touch, and .Baggage. This should consist of, the utmost lassitude and indisposition ist, a trunk to contain extra clothing, to effort of any kind were felt. This blankets when not in use, reserve appa- temperature, however, was experienced ratus, supplies, etc., and at times more for but a few days while in the Colo- or less of the material collected (5 rado Desert, and the lassitude may have lbs. weight free on railroads stages been pfirtly due to other causes. At and transfers extra) 2nd, a good-sized IOO to IO5 whole days were spent in gripsack or its equivalent to contain the field, tramping about and collecting clothing and supplies for immediate use, and though the sun was trying less guide-books, maps, etc.,--which is discomfort was felt than in the sultry usually carried free anywhere and is all heat of the east at 9o. that is necessary for short side-trips; In the Yosemite Valley the nights, 3rd, a collecting-outfit and packing- and especially the early mornings, were boxes ready for instant use,--often of cold relatively to the rest of the day, service during stops of the train for but over most of the district traversed water, at sidings, and in breakdowns or there was less diurnal range of tem- delays of any description. perature than in the east and much less leather. From May to Oct. change from day to day. the weather is very rarely unsuitable for Clothing. No change in the amount collecting, though near the extreme or character of the clothing from that dates it may be unsettled. On the customarily worn in New England was shore the early morning and late after- found necessary. Immediately on the noon are quite often foggy. In the shore light-weight woolens were needed. mountains showers may occur in any In the interior thinner clothing was month, but are rare. Rubber wraps more comfortable except at high alti- and blankets to protect from rain are tudes. At San Francisco during the never carried in summer, but light ones latter part of the day and on the. ferries to protect from dust are very desirable, a light.weight overcoat was desirable, January 898 1-'S 2"CH.E. owing to the boisterous, fog-laden sea- Leggings of stout duck or canvas that winds. buckle closely about the ankle and instep The hat to be worn depends largely are a va-luable addition to the collector's upon individual preference. The light- outfit, effectually excluding the dust, est and coolest is the cloth helmet, protecting the trousers from much wear which is provided with an air-space all and the gummy tar-weed, and possibly about the head, allowing free circula- warding off snake-bite.

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