The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-07

fact In noticing the distribution Of animals the
desert regions which occupy 30 large space Of the nte
rior Of our continent 1t viii have been observed how
beautifully nature has adapted them for these districts
Here man. the terror OF all animals cannot exist, for
there is no soil that he cultivate, no water to
sake his thirst, wood to supply him with fuel;
nor can the domestic animals necessary TO him
exist. But while these Inferior animals have such IN.
disputed sway unmolested by man. their lives are never
theless, attended with other dangers 1t might be sup
posed that the venom OF the tarantuc the cenpede,
the scorpion and the rattesnae would cectually pre-
them from all enemies. But such ia not the case
most yoracous bird is found here called by the Next
the paysana and by the Americans the chappora
cock which feeds these haeous creatures He even
ventures TO attack the ratlenake and as II aware OF
tho aters venom protects itself from its fangs by
using hs wing as shield Many instances have been
related to me by eyewtnesses Of contests between the
rattiesnake and this bird in which the latter always
of conquerer His aim is to seize the reptile by
the back OF his neck whom he be considered as van
pushed With the exception of this bird and the hog
animal has instructive dread Of the rattesnake
and will 6y at his approach. The hog eats them with
crows buzzards and hawks while the serpent tribe get
their living the lizards and frogs. Another popularity
of the desert is ts remarkable vegetation everything
being armed with thorns. First comes the endless
variety Of cac to look at Of which will make
shudder These from the tiny plant not larger
than the finger to the giant petahaya, raising its tall
This petahaya is the most remarkable cactus in the
world, and complete popular description Of it has
Of a portion Of the stem Of one with its fruit and
its flower, shall occupy your time with short de-
Of it, This .s rs found on the ,sas
parts OF the State Of Sonora, growing often in the Gre
vices Of rocks, and in other situations where would
difficult for any vegetation to find sustenance The
form it various, sometimes rising like sim
pie huted column although frequently 1t Is fur
nished with several branches which, after leaving the
main trunk turn gracefully upwards and rise parallel
with 1t. Sometimes the branches singularly con-
torted but usually their disposition symmetrical and
compared to that of . giant candelabrum. The stem is
from foot to three feet In diameter usually smaller
near the base and from twenty TO hfty feet IN height
This immense column ia admirably strengthened by
circle Of ribs of strong and elastic wood which are inn
bedded in the cellular of the plant several inches
within the circumference, and extend to the roots
This woody portion remains after the aeshy substance Of
the plant decays looking like huge skeleton The stem
Is marked with longitudinal burrows which are shallow
towards the ground and deeper and numerous to-
wards the summit and above the ribs 1t Is hicky set
with clusters of spines thorns OF these there
six large and numerous small In each cluster Az
the plant increases in age the larger spnes fall OF,
leog ray Of smaller ones which lie close to the stem
Most travellers who have noticed this cactus cereus
enough to the fruit and flower but have derived their
accounts Of them from the Indians. On our passage
across the country in September October and
and July had the satisfaction of beholding the fruit
in perfection, and occasional specimens Of the flower
tured in July and August The flowers borne the
submits Of the branches, three inches in diameter
and about the in length The petals are Of cream
white color, the stamens yellow and numerous The
fruit is about the size and shape of egg sometimes
rather larger having few small scales, without spnes.
The color Of the fruit green, tnged with red when
fully ripe 1t consists Of outer coat skim filed with
. red pulp, enclosing numerous small black, smooth
seeds The fruit when mature bursts at the top and
exposes the pulp, which, when dry resembles the 6g
Tho Pine and other Indians collect the pulp and roll it
into balls in which state it keeps the whole year. and is
worry pleasant to the taste They also boil the pulp in
water and evaporate II to the consstence Of molasse
after which it IL preserved in earthen jars.
Next to the cac the mezquit acacias the tor
na the fouquiera the sgaves, and yuccas, all armed
with the most terrific spikes or thorns Even the tender
grass the mezquit has its minute thorns But to ami
NAL and vegetable LIFE these thorny and angular forms
not confined They seem to be extended to nature
In the grandes aspect in which she here appears
The mountain ridges have before observed present
the most singular submits, terminating in pyramidal
points, resembling towers, minarets, etc. Thus is
everything in these regions peculiar To recompense
for the nhospabe deserts and barren soil which
occupies large space nature furnishes embowelled
in her nnumerabe mountains the greatest variety and
abundance of precious metals The vast riches embedded
in the great Sierra Madre yet little dreamt of;
but do not hesitate to say that for wealth of this des
cription California viii yet have to yield the palm
to these mountains.
At the conclusion of the foregoing Mr. Squers read
paper the MANUAL Pp Mexican Indians of the Bal
coast Salvador Both papers listened to with
much interest and attention and vote Of thanks
rendered to Mr. Squiers and Prof Bartlett after which
the meeting adjourned.