who has paid particular attention to the cactacea of North America.

This curious plant is found on the high table-lands on either side of the Gila, and in various parts of the State of Sonora, growing often in the crevices of rocks, and in other situations where it would seem difficult for any vegetable production to find sustenance. The forms it assumes are various; sometimes rising like a simple fluted column, although more frequently it is furnished with several branches, which, after leaving the main trunk, turn gracefully upwards and rise paral

lel with it. Sometimes the branches are singularly contorted; but usually, their disposition is symmetrical, and the appearance of the whole plant has been, not inaptly, compared to that of a giant candelabrum. The stem is from one foot to two feet six inches in diameter, usually smaller near the base, and from twenty to fifty feet in height. This immense column is admirably strengthened by a circle of ribs of strong and elastic wood, which are imbedded in the cellular mass of the plant, several inches within the circumference, and extend to the roots. This woody portion remains after the fleshy substance of the plant decays, looking like a huge skeleton. The stem is marked with longitudinal furrows, which are shallow towards the ground, and deeper and more numerous towards the summit; and above the ribs it is thickly set with clusters of spines or thorns. Of these there are six large and numerous small ones, in each cluster. As the plant increases in age, the larger spines fall off, leaving a ray of smaller ones, which lie close to the stem.

Most travellers who have noticed this cereus, have not been fortunate enough to see the fruit and flower, but have derived their accounts of them from the Indians. On our passage across the country in September, October, November, and December, we saw the tree; and on our return in June and July, we had the satisfaction of beholding the fruit in perfection, and occasional specimens of the flower. The plant probably blooms late in May, or early in June; and the fruit is matured in July and August. The flowers are borne on the summits of the branches, are three inches in diameter, and about the same in length. The petals

are stiff and curling, and of a cream-white color. The stamens are yellow and very numerous. The fruit is about the size and shape of an egg; sometimes rather longer than the true egg shape, having a few small scales, without spines. The color of the fruit is green tinged with red, when fully ripe. It consists of an outer coat or skin filled with a red pulp, inclosing numerous small, black, smooth seeds. The fruit, when mature, bursts at the top and exposes the pulp, which at this time is rather mawkish to the taste; but a few days' exposure to the sun dries it to about one third its original bulk, and the whole mass drops out of the skin. In this state it has the consistency of the pulp of a dried fig; and the saccharine matter being concentrated by drying, it somewhat resembles that fruit in

taste.

The Pimo and other Indians, collect the pulp and roll it into balls; in which state it probably keeps the whole year, as it was offered to our party which passed through in January. They also boil the pulp in water, and evaporate it to the consistence of molasses; after which, it is preserved in earthen jars.*

It has been supposed that the petahaya was first made known by Major Emory in his Notes of a Military Reconnoisance, &c. in 1847: but I shall show that the plant is by no means new, and that it has been noticed by many of the earlier travellers in the region where it is found.

In describing the plants of California, Venegas says, "The principal is the petahaya, the fruit of which forms the great harvest of the poor inhabitants here. This tree is not known in Europe, and differs from all other trees in the world: its branches are fluted and rise vertically from the stem, so as to form a very beautiful top; they are without leaves, the fruit growing to the boughs; the pulp resembles that of a fig, only more soft and luscious. In some it is white, in some red, and in others yellow, but always of an exquisite taste; some again are wholly

A number of the fish called by Major Emory the "Gila trout" were caught near our camp by Mr. Pratt with a hook and line. They proved very palatable, where fresh fish is such a rarity; but the flesh is quite soft, owing to the warmth of the water, and would scarcely be tolerated on the tables of the Atlantic coast. "At a little distance," says Major E., "you will imagine the fish covered with delicate scales; but, on a closer examination, you will find that they

sweet, others of a grateful acid. And as the petahaya is very juicy, it is chiefly found in dry soil."-Natural and Civil History of California. London, 1759. Vol. I. p. 42.

Father Salva Tierra, one of the most laborious of the California missionaries, and who resided in that country in 1697, speaks of the festivities among the Indians on the occasion of gathering the petahaya. "The three petahaya months," he says, "resemble the carnival in some parts of Europe, when the men are in a great measure stupefied or mad. The natives here, also, throw aside what little reason they have, giving themselves up to feastings, dancings, entertainments of the neighboring rancherias, buffooneries, and comedies, such as they are; and in these whole nights are spent to the high diversion of the audience."-Vol. II. p. 82.

Alcedo has the following article respecting it: "Pita Haya (Cactus Pitahaya). Arbol grande y muy singular; porque sus ramas son al modo de cirios histriados, que salien derechos desde su tronco acia lo alto, no llevan hoja alguna, y en la misma rama nace pagada la fruta, que tiene la corteza llena de espinas, y se parece algo a los higos de tuna, aunque la carne es mas blanca y delicada; unas la tienen roxa y otras amarilla distinguiendose tambien en dulces y agridulces; pero muy sabrosas. Monardes C da el nombre de Cardin y abunda en el Jardin Botanico de esta Corte.-Dicctionario Geografico Historico, Tomo V. Appendix, p. 152. Madrid, 1789.

On referring to Monardes, I find his description does not correspond to the Petahaya, whence it is evident he had reference to something else. But Hernandi, another Spanish botanist, has a very full description