Background to Prehistory of the Yuha Desert Region. Philip J. Wilke. ed. Ramona, California: Ballena Press Anthropological Papers No. 5. 1976. 109 pp. $4.95 (paper).

Listening to the recounting of familiar myths and tales constituted a favorite form of amusement for the California Indians, and many a long winter night was passed in this manner. Specially gifted elderly persons, generally men, their memories well stocked with traditional lore, were the story- tellers. They held forth by firelight, usually in an assembly house, chief's dwelling, or other large structure, with their audience, composed of men, women, and ciuldren, clustered around them. Commonly, a raconteur prolonged his recital far into the night.

Co-traditions and Convergent Trends in Prehistoric California. Bert A. Gerow. San Luis Obispo: San Luis Obispo County Archaeological Society Occasional Papers No. 8. 1974. V + 57 pp., 3 figs. $3.00 (paper).

Franklin Fenenga died suddenly on April 7, 1994, of pneumonia. Shortly before, ha had learned that he had inoperable lung cancer and only a relatively short time to live. His death ended a long and noteworthy career of research into California's archaeological past.

Obviously, the various archaelogical activities that have gone on in Death Valley during the past fifty-odd years, and particularly since 1950, have enormously enriched knowledge of the region's past. Now, with this expanded body of information, many questions as to the nature and course of former human occupation can be answered. But it would be wrong to assume that the archaeologist's task is done or that it has reached the point of diminishing returns. Vast tracts, some of considerable promise, remain totally or inadequately explored. The possibility of surprising or even revolutionary discoveries in these areas is strong. Moreover, even if the main outline of the region's past seems reasonably clear, obscurity and uncertainty still hang over many of the details. In short, there is still much to be done.

Death Valley: Geology, Ecology, Archaeology. Charles B. Hunt. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1976. 234 pp. Illustrations. $14.95 (cloth). $6.95 (paper).

By the last quarter of the nineteenth century some Death Valley Indians had incorporated small scale farming into their subsistence economy. First to report native crop raising was Lieutenant Rogers J. Birnie, Jr., who led a United States Army exploring party into the desert country in 1875.

A favored though probably infrequent fare of the Death Valley Indians was the flesh of the chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus), California's largest lizard. The capture of one of these creatures provided a good-sized meal, for a full-grown individual can attain a length of eighteen inches and a weight of two or three pounds.