Part 1, 8vo., New Haven, 1866. Memoirs of the Boston Society of Natural

History, 4to., Vol. 1, Part 1, Boston, 1866. Proceedings of the Academy

of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, Nos. 2 and 3, 1866, 8vo., Phil.,

1866. Proceedings of the Essex Institute, vol. 5, No. 1, 8vo., Salem,

1866. Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History, vol. 10,

Sheets 4-23, 8vo., Boston, 1866. Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History

of New York, vol. 8, Nos. 6-12, 8vo., New York, 1865-6. Proceedings of

the Chicago Academy of Sciences, vol. 1, Sheets 1-3, 8vo., Chicago, 1866.

Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. 7, 8vo.,

Boston, 1865-6. All the above were presented by the societies or authors

named; and the foreign publications were received through the Smithsonian

Institution.

Mr. Stearns exhibited specimens of _Petricola carditoides_ and

_Pholadidea ovoidea_, in unusually hard serpentine, collected by himself

at Fort Point, San Francisco.

Professor Whitney read some extracts from letters just received from

Mr. Rémond, giving an account of his geological explorations in Peru and

Chile. Mr. Rémond has obtained a suite of plants from the coal-bearing

formation of Northern Chile, sufficient in number to fix its age as

Triassic. Two species, one a _Pecopteris_, the other a _Pterophyllum_,

are apparently identical with those found with the coal near Los Bronces,

in Sonora, Mexico, by Mr. Rémond. Above the coal-bearing conglomerates

and sandstones, there are stratified porphyries, and above these,

fossiliferous limestones of Liassic age. The fossils in this last

mentioned formation are, in general, similar to those found by Domeyko

and Darwin, at Las Juntas and Tres Cruces; but Mr. Rémond obtained

several new species. He also collected a large number of species in the

Tertiaries of Coquimbo and Caldera. Farther, he obtained fossils in

sufficient numbers from the rocks in which are the famous silver mines of

Chañarcillo and Tres Puntas, to fix their age as belonging to the Lower

Cretaceous.

Professor Whitney commented on the importance of these investigations,

especially that concerning the age of the Chile coal. It is very

interesting to know that the same formation carries coal in Chile which

has been found to bear that indispensable material in Northern Mexico.

The vast extent over which Triassic rocks occur in Arizona, New Mexico,

and Nevada, gives a peculiar interest to every discovery of this kind.

REGULAR MEETING, DECEMBER 17TH, 1866.

President in the chair.

Twelve members present.

Dr. F. Hansen was elected a Resident Member.

Donation to the Cabinet: Skeleton of a Beaver, presented by Mr. S.

Hubbard.

Donation to the Library: Ninety-six volumes and pamphlets chiefly on

various branches of natural history, from the library of the late William

Cooper, of New York, presented by J. G. Cooper, M.D.

ANNUAL MEETING, JANUARY 7TH, 1867.

Mr. Stearns in the chair.

Twenty-nine members present.

Dr. J. B. Trask was elected Life Member, and Dr. George D. Cleveland and

Mr. George O. Whitney, Resident Members.

The Treasurer made a verbal Report. The Librarian and the Chairman of

the Publication Committee made written reports, which were accepted

and placed on file. The Curators of the various departments reported

verbally. The Academy having moved twice during the past year, and the

last time within a few days, the collections are of course in great

disorder. The rooms now taken are those formerly occupied by the Academy,

at 622 Clay street, and from which they were obliged to remove on account

of the damage done to the building, by the earthquake of October 8th,

1865.

The following officers were elected for the year 1867:

PRESIDENT.

J. D. WHITNEY.

VICE PRESIDENTS.

LEANDER RANSOM.

R. E. C. STEARNS.

TREASURER.

SAMUEL HUBBARD.

CORRESPONDING SEC’Y.

W. B. EWER.

RECORDING SEC’Y.

THEODORE BRADLEY.

LIBRARIAN.

H. KELLOGG, M.D.

CURATORS.

W. S. KEYES MINERALOGY.

H. N. BOLANDER BOTANY.

W. M. GABB PALÆONTOLOGY.

E. F. LORQUIN ZOOLOGY.

W. G. W. HARFORD CONCHOLOGY.

H. BEHR, M.D. ENTOMOLOGY.

COMMITTEE ON FINANCE.

MESSRS. WHITNEY, HUBBARD, ASHBURNER, AND STEARNS.

COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.

MESSRS. WHITNEY, AYRES, AND STEARNS.

COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY.

MESSRS. JANIN, GIBBONS, AND KELLOGG.

COMMITTEE ON PROCEEDINGS.

MESSRS. KEYES, BOLANDER, AND BOSQUI.

Dr. Behr submitted specimens of microscopic crustaceans, of a brilliant

red color, found upon the surface of a lake in Marin County; he remarked

that they might be of some use in the arts, if they could be obtained in

sufficient quantity.

REGULAR MEETING, JANUARY 21ST, 1867.

President in the Chair.

Twenty-three members present.

Governor R. C. McCormick, of Arizona, and R. C. Jacobs, of Chihuahua,

were elected Corresponding Members, and Messrs. J. W. Kidwell, A. Sutro,

A. T. Mason, H. C. Bidwell and H. P. Carlton were elected Resident

Members.

Donations to the Library: Oversigt over det Kongelige danske

Videnskabernes Selskabs Förhandlingar i Aaret 1864, 1 Vol., 8vo.,

Copenhagen. The same, 1866, Nos. 2-4. 32er Jahresbericht des Mannheimer

Vereins für Naturkunde, 1 Vol. 12mo., 1866, (2 copies.) Mittheilungen aus

dem Osterlande, 17er Band, 3 und 4 Heft, Altenburg, 1866. Jahreshefte

des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins für das Fürstenthum Lüneburg, I.,

1865, 8vo. Der Zoologische Garten, vii Jahrgang, Nos. 7, 9, 11, 12,

8vo., Frankfurt, 1866. Bericht über die XIV Versammlung der Deutschen

Ornithologen-Gesells., 8vo., 1862. Sitzungs-Berichte der Naturw.

Gesells. Isis in Dresden, Jahrg. 1866, 8vo., Dresden. Jahrbuch der k.

k. Geolog. Reichsanstalt, Jahrg. 1866, No. 3, 8vo., Wien. Abhandlungen

herausgegeben vom Naturw. Vereine zu Bremen, I Bd. 1 Heft, 8vo., Bremen,

1866. Journal de Conchyliologie, 3me Série, Tome vi., Nos. 3, 4, 8vo.,

Paris, 1866. On the Osteology and Myology of Colymbus Torquatus, by

R. Elliot Coues, (Mem. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., Vol. 1, Part ii.) 4to.,

Cambridge, 1866. Journal of the Royal Hortic. Society of London, Vol.

1, Part 4, 12mo., 1867. Same, Proceedings, Vol. 1, N. S., No. 6, Aug.,

1866, Jan., 1867, 12mo., London. Zeitschrift der Oesterreichischen

Gesells. der Meteorologie, 1 Band, 1866. Sitzungsberichte der Königl.

bayer. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu München, 1865, II, 3-4; 1866,

I, 1-4; II, 1, 8vo., Munich. Die Bedeutung moderner Gradmessungen, von

Bauernfeind, 4to., pamphlet, München, 1866. Verzeichniss von 9412,

Æquatorial-Sternen, ein Sup. Band zu der Ann. der Münch. Sternwarte,

8vo., Munich, 1866. Resultate Magnetischer, etc., Beobachtungen auf

einer Reise nach dem östlichen Sibirien 1828-30, von Prof. C. Hansteen

and Lieut. Due, 4to., Christiania, 1863. Hansteen, Magnetismus der Erde,

1 Theil, 4to., Christiania, 1819, with plates separate. Meteorologiske

Iagttagelser paa Christiania Observatorium, 1865, long 4to., Christiania,

1866. Mœrker efter en Jistid i Omegn af Hardangerfjorden, af S. A. Sexe,

4to., pamphlet, Christiania, 1866. Bidrag til Bygningskikkens Udvikling

paa Landet i Norge, 1ste Hefte, 4to., pamphlet, Christiania, 1865.

Dr. Kellogg exhibited specimens of _Thaspium cordatum_, (Heart-leaf

Meadow Parsnip) a plant which has become somewhat known in cases of

chronic rheumatism, and which is common on this coast. He remarked that

it might be mistaken for _Sanicula_, (Sanicle) or possibly for _Conium

maculatum_ (Poison Hemlock).

Dr. Kellogg also presented specimens of a beautiful Alpine willow-herb

collected by Mr. Blanchard, of Brooklyn, Alameda County; it was found

in the mountains west of Owen’s Lake, near the Kearsarge mines, at

an altitude of 8,000 feet. He considered it a variety of _Epilobium

obcordatum_, Gray. This plant is described in the Proc. Am. Acad. of Arts

and Sciences for May, 1865.

Dr. James Blake read the following communication:

On the Nourishment of the Fœtus in the Embiotocoid Fishes.

BY JAMES BLAKE, M.D., F.R.C.S.

I am not aware that the process by which the embryo of the

Embiotocoid fishes receive the nourishment necessary for its

growth, has ever been pointed out. It certainly differs from

the three most common forms in which the embryo of other

animals is nourished, as there is nothing like a placenta by

which they can receive nourishment from the mother; there is

no supply of nutriment surrounding the embryo, as in the case

of most oviparous animals, nor is the embryo brought into

direct contact with the water, so as to derive nourishment

by absorption from the surrounding medium, as is the case in

oviparous fishes generally and in most of the lower forms of

animal life. The young fish is contained in a uterus which,

in the undeveloped state, resembles very much the ovaries of

the common oviparous fishes, except that its walls are thicker,

and that the number of ova it contains is very much smaller.

In the interior of the uterus, projecting from its sides, are

a number of processes analogous to those to which the ova are

usually attached. These processes vary in number in different

examples, but they are so arranged that each fœtal fish is in

contact on every side with a surface of one of these processes.

They consist apparently of a membrane composed of a cellular

tissue, and scattered over their surface are a number of small

mammillary elevations with an orifice in the center, and which

are probably the organs by which the peculiar secretion of the

uterus, to be hereafter noticed, is poured out. In an example

I examined, in which impregnation had apparently just taken

place, numerous ova were found adhering to these processes,

although not at all in such numbers as in the ordinary fishes.

I counted thirty-eight in about the space of an inch; of these,

however, but few can be developed, as the number of fœtuses

seldom exceeds forty, and sometimes is only eight. In the whole

of the uterus there probably were from one hundred to one

hundred and fifty ova. Of the earlier stages of development,

however, it is not my object to treat in the present memoir,

as I did not commence my investigations sufficiently early

to be able fully to make it out. As soon, however, as the

embryo has advanced sufficiently for the fins to be formed,

these appendages are found to be terminated by a number of

digitations, which project from the free edges of the fin, and

are usually found situated, one between each ray or spine. They

are composed almost entirely of fine capillary blood-vessels,

united apparently by a very delicate and structureless

membrane. They are so delicate that unless great care is taken

in removing the specimen from the uterus, they are destroyed;

nor have I ever been able to discover them in specimens that

have been preserved in alcohol. These processes seem continuous

with the membrane extended between the rays of the fins, but

are much more delicate; they project from the free edge of the

fin, sometimes as much as the eighth of an inch, and are, in

the fully developed embryo, the fifteenth of an inch broad.

On the free margin of each digitation, a larger capillary can

be observed, which appears to be continuous all around; it is

about the .003 in. in diameter, the intermediate space being

filled with a net-work of smaller capillaries. This system

of digitations projects from the entire edge of the dorsal,

ventral and caudal fins, but not from the pectorals. They in

fact form a fringe round the entire body, with the exception of

the head and that part of the abdomen in front of the anus.

Such is the structure of the organ that evidently has some

connection with the nourishment of the fœtus, resembling

as it does so closely the early formation of the vascular

villi and the placental tufts that proceed from the chorion

of the mammiferous embryo, and through which it derives its

nourishment before the placenta is fully formed.

The question now presents itself as to how nourishment is

conveyed from the parent to the fœtus through these tufts? As

before stated, the lining membrane of the uterus sends off

processes which surround each fœtus, without however forming

sheet sacks; but although these processes are very freely

supplied with blood-vessels, yet the finest injection failed

to show any more vascular spots where the fœtal digitations

might have been brought into more immediate contact with the

blood of the parent. I however was fortunate enough to obtain

a fish, in the uterus of which I discovered a considerable

quantity of fluid, and on collecting it, and submitting

it to chemical tests, I found that this fluid contained a

considerable quantity of an animal substance, resembling, to

a certain extent, some of the compounds that are formed from

albumen during the process of digestion. The fluid was of

yellowish color, translucent, deposited on standing some small

globules which under the microscope strongly refracted the

light, were not altered by acetic acid, but dissolved in ether;

probably fat globules; when heated, there was no coagulation,

although the fluid was not quite so clear; solution of Hg Cl₂

caused no precipitate; tannin in solution caused a yellowish

precipitate. In adding ether to a portion of the fluid, there

was a free disengagement of gas, a white flocculent precipitate

was formed, and on allowing the vessel to stand, the fluid

separated itself into three portions: the upper portion

consisting of pure ether apparently, then a layer containing

white flocculi, which occupied about the fourth part of the

fluid, and below this the remains of the original fluid, but

little altered in appearance. There can, I think, be little

doubt but that it is through the medium of this fluid that the

fœtus obtains its nourishment. The considerable portion of

animal matter it contains, and that too in a state particularly

fitted for absorption and for conversion into tissue, fits it

for furnishing the fœtus with the elements necessary for its

growth by absorption through the large surface of capillary

vessels which are found in the vascular digitations that

surround the fœtus, and which are constantly bathed in the

fluid. The difficulty that up to the present time has attended

every attempt to trace the connection between the parent and

fœtus in these embiotocoid fishes, is owing, in the first

place, to the extreme delicacy of the vascular digitations of

the fœtus, which prevents their being observed in preserved

specimens, and also to the fact that in almost every case

the fluid secreted by the uterus is entirely expelled by the

violent struggles of the fish when removed from the water,

so that it was almost by a rare accident that I succeeded in

obtaining any. I hope, however, during the coming season, to be

able more fully to carry out these researches.

[Illustration: FIG. 30. A Fœtal Fish, about two-thirds grown,

slightly enlarged.]

[Illustration: FIG. 31. A portion of Dorsal Fin of an almost

mature fœtal fish, about double the natural size.]

[Illustration: FIG. 32. A portion of a Digitation, magnified

about 150 diameters, showing capillaries.]

SAN FRANCISCO, January 21st, 1867.

Mr. Bolander exhibited the cones of many species of pines growing in this

State, and stated what was known concerning the peculiarities of the

different species, and their geographical distribution.

He stated that the pines of California comprise sixteen true

species, which he described briefly. There are twenty synonyms

for these species, which have created some confusion as to

their real name and number. The correct names of all, with

the popular characteristics of the most striking, and their

distribution, are given herewith. The names marked thus * are

those of trees having persistent cones, which they retain from

ten to twenty years in some instances. Those marked thus †

retain their cones but two years. Those marked thus ‡ retain

them but one year:

_Pinus insignis._*—Well known as the ornamental Monterey pine,

which is much cultivated in San Francisco.

_P. muricata._*—Not remarkable.

_P. contorta._*—Small and bushy, but valuable as shelter

against wind. Grows abundantly near Fort Bragg, in the

Mendocino country, where it makes the stoutest wind-proof hedge

known. Ought to be tried in San Francisco.

_P. tuberculata._*—Always small, seldom higher than 15 to 30

feet.

_P. ponderosa._‡—The well known yellow pine. Attains a height

of 225 feet and more, and a circumference of 23 or 24 feet.

_P. Lambertiana._*—The equally well known, larger and handsome

“sugar pine,” or “long-cone pine” of Frémont. Usually grows at

great altitudes; exceedingly valuable for timber, and affords

the principal supplies.

_P. Coulteri._†—Found in the lower eastern slope of the Coast

Range. Not very large; sometimes attains a height of 75 feet;

knotty, but ornamental. It is remarkable for having the largest

cone of all the pines, and specimens of its cone, when first

known, brought five guineas in England.

_P. Sabiniana._†—This is the nut pine of the foothills,

sometimes called the “scrub pine,” or “silver pine.” The Digger

Indians gather the nuts from its cone as a favorite article of

food. It is found on the foothills of both Coast Ranges and

Sierra Nevada.

Mr. Bolander mentioned several species in the group of coast

pines which he had not seen, viz: _P. Llaveana_, east of San

Diego; _P. deflexa_, on the summit of the California Mountains;

_P. Torreyana_,* near San Diego.

_P. monticola._‡—A tall tree and affording fine timber; said to

be hardier than the sugar pine, and might be preferred if its

position near the summit did not make it difficult of access.

_P. flexilis._‡—This grows on windy heights in the form of a

low shrub, so stout and thick that a man can stand on its top.

In low altitudes it reaches a height of a hundred feet. It is

useful only for firewood.

_P. monophylla._—This is a stunted, twisted tree, which grows

on the eastern slope of the Sierra, where it corresponds to the

nut-pine on the western slope. At a distance it resembles in

shape the live oak. Its cone is ill shapen and has an offensive

odor, but yields a sweet nut.

_P. Balfouriana._—This species is found near Scott’s Valley, in

Northern California.

Five species in the above list—_insignis_, _muricata_,

_Llaveana_, _deflexa_ and _Torreyana_—are peculiar to the sea

coast. Five species—the _contorta_, _ponderosa_, _Lambertiana_,

_Sabiniana_, _tuberculata_—are found both in the Coast Ranges

and Sierra Nevada. The _Coulteri_ is found only in the Coast

Range, eastern slope; the _monticola_ only high in the Sierra;

the _flexilis_ only on the upper Sierra and western slope of

the same; and the _monophylla_ only on the eastern slope.

REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 4TH, 1867.

President in the Chair.

Twenty-eight members present.

Messrs. Joseph P. LeCount, C. Von Liebenau, Amory F. Bell, W. C. Walker,

George H. Powers, Thomas Bennett, M.D., L. Gilson, Delos J. Howe, R. S.

Williamson, U. S. Engineers, R. D’Heureuse, Rev. John F. Harrington, H.

C. Hyde, G. B. Hitchcock and Jacob Bacon were elected Resident Members.

Donations to Library: Review of the Mining, Agricultural and Commercial

Interests of the Pacific States, from J. H. Carmany. Essai Politique sur

la Nouvelle Espagne, by A. de Humboldt, 2 Vols., 4to., and atlas folio,

Paris, 1811, presented by A. Sutro.

Professor Whitney read the following communication:

On the Fresh Water Infusorial Deposits of the Pacific Coast, and their

Connection with the Volcanic Rocks.

BY J. D. WHITNEY.

The microscopic discoveries of the last few years have

immensely extended the range and importance of the minute,

and, to the naked eye, invisible organisms, which, under the

general designation of “Infusoria,” are recognized as a part of

the kingdom of nature. It is especially to Ehrenberg that we

are indebted for a demonstration of the geological importance

of the Diatoms, those microscopic organisms which so long

puzzled naturalists to decide whether they were animal or

vegetable in their nature, but which are now, by the majority

of zoölogists, referred to as plants. In Ehrenberg’s great

work, the “Mikrogeologie,” or geology in little, this eminent

naturalist has given the results of the examination, by

himself, of specimens of infusorial rocks, soils, ashes, dust,

and other accumulations or masses of matter from every quarter

of the globe: these investigations show most conclusively

that deposits of vast extent—of such magnitude, indeed, as to

form no inconsiderable portion of the earth’s crust—are the

result of organic agencies, and that what seems to the eye an

unorganized mass, may in reality be made up of the delicately

wrought and almost infinitely minute remains of plant or animal

life.

That animals, or plants, so minute that a hundred millions of

distinct individuals will scarcely weigh a single grain, should

form accumulations hundreds of feet in thickness and extending

over thousands of square miles, seems a hardly credible

statement; but a fact still more difficult to believe and

comprehend is one which is thoroughly established by abundant

evidence, namely: that immense deposits of volcanic materials,

or, at least, of materials closely connected in their origin

and nature with volcanic action, and spread over vast tracts of

country in different parts of the world, are also, to a large

extent, made up of these microscopic organisms, the existence

of which seems dependent on the presence of water, and so

utterly at variance with a condition of volcanic activity.

Throughout this volcanic region of California, Oregon, Nevada,

and probably as far north as the igneous masses extend, which

are well known to cover a vast area on the western side of our

continent, there are found deposits, which are usually called

“fire-clay,” “kaolin,” “pipe-clay,” or simply “clay;”[30] these

masses are, however, not at all of the nature of kaolin, nor

are they proper clay, although they may, in places, pass into

clay or shale.

The material of which this deposit is made up is exceedingly

fine-grained, seemingly an impalpable powder, usually perfectly

white and more or less distinctly stratified. It is extremely

light, and resembles commercial magnesia more than anything

else. In its geological position, it is found underlying the

basaltic masses, or the products of the last great eruptive

action of the Sierra Nevada. It is often associated with, or

intercalated among beds of gravel, fine or coarse-grained

sandstone and shales, and bears the evident marks of being a

sedimentary deposit made along the sides of a gently-descending

broad valley, or lake-like expansion of a valley. This is

its character in the Sierra Nevada; but as we go north and

northeast, and come on to the great volcanic table lands

of Northern California and Southern and Eastern Oregon, we

find the thickness of the deposits of this kind of material

increasing, and the area occupied by them more considerable.

The following localities are especially worthy of notice: North

of Virginia City, Nevada; Surprise Valley; Pit River, near

mouth of Canoe Creek; Klamath Basin, or in the vicinity of

Wright, Rhett and Klamath Lakes; the Des Chutes Basin.

Of all the localities, the last mentioned would seem to be the

most remarkable for the extent and thickness of the deposits in

question. It was from here that the first specimens examined by

Ehrenberg, in 1849, were brought by Frémont, who represented

the deposit as 500 feet thick. This region has since been

examined by Dr. Newberry, who describes the cañons of the

tributaries of the Des Chutes as in places 2,000 feet deep, the

plateaux between which cañons are covered by basaltic lava,

and this is seen, in the magnificent sections thus presented,

to rest on a thickness of hundreds of feet of tufaceous

strata interstratified with a variety of beds of volcanic

conglomerates, pumice sand, ashes, etc. Dr. Newberry speaks of

tufaceous strata 1,200 feet in thickness, in the cañon near the

mouth of the Mptolyas River.

The white material, of which some of the more prominent

localities have been indicated above, and which is well known

to explorers under so many names, as already mentioned, is

in reality chiefly of a silicious character, and made up, to

a large extent, of organic bodies of microscopic dimensions,

infusoria, or _Diatomaceæ_. This fact was first recognized

in the case of the specimens collected by Frémont on the Des

Chutes River, and examined by Bailey and Ehrenberg. Specimens

collected by Dr. Newberry, on the Pacific Railroad Survey, were

also examined by Professor Bailey, but I am not aware that any

detailed description of the results was ever published.

Among the collection of the Geological Survey are a large

number of specimens of the white infusorial deposit, underlying

the lava at various localities. Of these a preliminary

examination has been made by Professor Brewer, and a large

supply of material is now in the hands of Mr. A. M. Edwards,

of New York, for a detailed examination and report. The fact

has been already well demonstrated that all or nearly all these

fine, white, light masses are made up, to a large extent, of

the silicious remains of the _diatomaceæ_, and in all cases of

forms peculiar to fresh water. The geological position of these

beds is extremely recent. They extend from the latter portion

of the Pliocene into the Post-pliocene epoch, and seem to have

continued their existence nearly, if not quite, down to the

present day.

So far the facts are very simple, and the principal results

of our detailed microscopic examination of these infusorial

deposits will be, the knowledge of the range of the different

species which occur in them, and the relations of the various

forms to those now living, either in this region or in other

parts of the world. This the extent of our collections will

give us better opportunities to do than others have yet had.

There is a point, however, of great interest connected with

these deposits, in regard to which I desire to make some

remarks at this present time, and on which I consider that our

explorations are capable of throwing some light.

Ehrenberg has recently[31] examined a specimen collected

many years ago, in the Toluca Valley, Mexico, by the

well-known mining engineer Burkart, of what he denominates

a “Phytolitharien Tuff” or phytolithic tufa, and which came

to him labeled “Trachytic Tufa, from Toluca Valley, _quere_,

whether pumice-like or infusorial.” Of this, Ehrenberg says:

“It is a silver-gray, easily crumbled, gritty tufa, which does

not effervesce with acids, and which, when heated, becomes

darker, but not black, and then assumes a light-brownish

color.” The microscopic analysis of it showed that it was made

up to a large extent of phytolitharia, which probably belong

chiefly to the grasses, and between them lie scattered a

comparatively small number of bacillaria. All are fresh-water

forms.

In his remarks on this material, Ehrenberg recalls the other

specimens of infusorial tufas, which have been examined by

him, at various times, since 1839. He mentions particularly

the rock from the Des Chutes River, collected by Frémont; also

trachytic tufa, with organic remains, from Honduras; trachytic

tufa from the volcano Maibu, in Chile; the mud-ejections (?)

of the volcanoes near Quito; the ejections (?) of the volcano

Imbabaru, as well as those from the island of Guadaloupe.

In regard to the Des Chutes River deposit, it may be

incidentally remarked that the eminent microscopist seems to

assign to it a much greater geological age than it really

deserves; it is, unquestionably, as recent as the latter part

of the Pliocene.

It would appear from what Ehrenberg has published, that he

considers this occurrence of organic forms, in connection with

reputed volcanic masses, to be something extremely difficult

to explain, as indeed it is, if we adopt the view taken by

him, namely, that these so-called tufaceous materials are the

direct products of volcanic action; that is to say, that they

have been ejected from craters, either in the form of showers

of ashes or of mud out-flows. It would be, indeed, to my

comprehension, something entirely inexplicable, that such vast

masses of matter, made up to a large extent of organic forms,

should be poured forth from the interior of the earth. This

would be the case, as it appears to me, no matter what theory

of volcanic action one might choose to adopt; since, whatever

may be the cause, no one will deny that a high temperature is,

at least, one of the results. That Ehrenberg really considers

these infusorial deposits to be of eruptive origin, is evident

from a remark in his last communication, (that in reference

to the specimen from the Toluca Valley) to the effect that

the occurrence of fresh-water forms, exclusively, in these

infusorial masses is evidence that volcanic phenomena are not

dependent on, or connected with, the presence of sea-water,

as is generally supposed, from the fact that volcanoes are

situated, in most cases, near the sea coast.

Not having the necessary works of reference at hand to be able

to see, in all the cases cited by Ehrenberg, exactly what

the evidence is, on which his theory of the origin of these

infusorial deposits is founded, I will not attempt to give an

authoritative statement in regard to any others than those

which belong to this coast; but I cannot avoid drawing the

inference, that the same conditions which are so easily traced

here will, on future examination, be found existing in all the

other localities cited by him.

The mode of occurrence of these fresh-water infusorial deposits

in California, and on the Pacific coast in general, is very

simple. They are accumulations of organisms which have been

collected at the bottom of the lakes, or in the lake-like

shallow expansions of rivers, in which they grew. This growth

took place at a time when volcanic agencies were busily at

work, giving rise to accumulations of ashes, pumice, and

other materials. The rapidity with which these infusorial

deposits form, at the present time even, the vast extent over

which they are distributed, and the general importance in the

geological history of the earth, are now matters which are well

understood, of the masses thus accumulated and in regard to

which the store of facts has been rapidly growing in magnitude

during the past few years. The mud deposits and deltas of

rivers, the bottoms of lakes and swamps, and the bed of the

ocean itself, are the repositories of these forms. Heat and

stagnant water seem to be what is required for their rapid

reproduction and the consequent rapid accumulation of their

remains.

The infusorial deposits of Central California—I refer now

to those of fresh water origin, and connected with volcanic

masses—are all situated in such positions as to show, that

they were formed and deposited in shallow water; that, through

the various alternations of calm and convulsion in the Sierra,

they were at one time allowed to accumulate in quiet, then

swept over by masses of gravel and sand, indicating a furious

rush of water, then covered with a shower of ashes and pumice

from the neighboring volcanoes of the Sierra then in active

operation; and finally, at the grand finale of the basaltic

lava overflow of the chain, capped with this indestructible

material, which has effectually prevented the washing away of

the otherwise easily removed infusorial deposits. This is the

connection between the volcanic and the infusorial masses; by

their absolute indestructibility the former have protected the

latter from denudation, and consequently we see them always

accompanying each other: for where the cover did not exist,

there the denuding forces have swept away every vestige of

the soft and easily yielding material, or else it remains

concealed under the water. To form an idea of the extent of

the erosion which has taken place since these infusorial beds

were deposited, and the consequent change in the configuration

of the country, we must bear in mind that the whole of the

present river cañons on the west slope of the Sierra have been

excavated since that time, and that, in many places, the

strata have been removed to a vertical depth of between two and

three thousand feet.

Everything shows that the surface covered by fresh water in

the region east of the crest of the Sierra was, at a not very

distant epoch, much greater in extent than it now is. There

existed, probably during or immediately after the glacial

epoch, a chain of great lakes occupying a large portion of the

country from Walker’s Lake to the Des Chutes River, a distance

of about four hundred miles, and extending over a breadth of

not less than one hundred. A large portion of this region is

now a volcanic plateau; and, where cut into by the force of

running water, the deposits of infusorial strata may be seen,

sometimes thin and unimportant, but often of great thickness.

Observations and measurements of terraces and determination of

the altitude of all these old lake deposits will enable us at

some future time to indicate on the map the area once occupied

by this great chain of inland seas. The vast extent of the

lacustrine infusorial formations on the east side of the Sierra

is thus accounted for, as well as the comparatively small area

which they cover on the western slope.

In addition to the stratigraphical reason given above why

the infusorial strata should occur connected with eruptive

masses, there may be a chemical one which shall, in part,

account for the apparent great development of the _diatomaceæ_

in volcanic regions. These organisms require an amount of

silica, infinitesimally small for each individual, but in

reality enormous for the number of organisms required to

develop themselves over the vast area and with the thickness

which they occupy. That a volcanic region should supply a

larger amount of silica in the state in which it can be

appropriated by the _diatomaceæ_, is extremely probable. We

know that silicification of all organic matters occurring in

these volcanic regions of our coast proceeds with the greatest

rapidity, and has taken place on an extensive scale. The

thermal springs contain a great amount of free silica, and

it is in the vicinity of such springs that large infusorial

deposits are frequently found. It seems that it could only

be in regions particularly favorable for the secretion of

their silicious coverings, that these infusoria could be

accumulated with such rapidity as to form what may be called,

without exaggeration, mountain masses. It is also possible

that temperature may have something to do with this rapid

development, and that volcanic regions may on this account be

favorable to it.

To my apprehension, the phenomena of infusorial deposits in

connection with volcanic masses admit of an easy explanation

on this coast, at least; and I can hardly believe that any of

the localities of _diatomaceæ_, if closely examined, would

present any such difficulties as to make the assumption

necessary that they have been ejected from the interior of the

earth. In cases where infusoria seem to have been actually

ejected from craters, as is said to have been the case in

some of the South American volcanoes, it is not difficult to

understand that an ancient crater may have become filled up and

temporarily converted into a lake; and that, after the growth

and deposition of an infusorial deposit at the bottom, a new

eruption may have broken out in the same place as a previous

one, or in its immediate neighborhood. In such a case, among

the ejected material, a large quantity of the infusoria would

be found mingled with the ashes, which must pass through the

material collected in the bottom of the crater as they rise

from the interior of the earth. The bursting of lakes at the

bases of volcanic cones, caused by the rapid melting of the

snows above them, have often given rise to torrents of volcanic

mud, called “Moya” in South America, in which both animal and

vegetable remains are often inclosed in great quantity; but the

connection between the organic and inorganic phenomena, in such

cases, is perfectly evident.

In fact, I see no reason for suspecting any connection between

the infusorial deposits and the volcanic masses of this coast,

or of any other part of the world, which should influence the

geologist in forming an opinion with regard to the cause or the

locality of volcanic action.

In conclusion, it may be remarked that the marine infusorial

rocks of the Pacific coast, and especially of California,

are of great extent and importance. They occur in the Coast

Ranges, from Clear Lake to Los Angeles. They are of no little

economical, as well as scientific, interest; since, as I

conceive, the existence of bituminous materials in this State,

in all their forms, from the most liquid to the most dense, is

due to the presence of infusoria—the proofs of which statement

I will, at some future time, endeavor to set before the Academy.

[30] They are also frequently called “magnesia,” and have been

repeatedly stated by “assayers” in San Francisco to be made up

of that earth.

[31] See Monatsbericht der Kön. Preuss. Akad. zu Berlin, 1866,

page 158.

Dr. Kellogg read a paper on “Fungi,” in which he gave a full account of

their nature, distribution, and uses.

Mr. Lorquin exhibited two ducks, and made some remarks in regard to them.

One of them he considered a hybrid between the Pintail and the Mallard,

and the other between the Pintail and the Teal.

Mr. Falkenau gave an account of the chemical reactions of the red matter

exhibited by Dr. Behr to the Academy, at the meeting of January 7th. The

quantity was too small for a satisfactory result.

Dr. Stivers made some remarks on the _Nereocystes Lütkeana_, one of the

Algæ, and remarkable for its absorptive power.

REGULAR MEETING, FEBRUARY 18TH, 1867.

President in the Chair.

Twenty-five members present.

Messrs. I. W. Raymond, Rodmond Gibbons, Thomas H. Selby, Daniel Knight,

F. A. Holman, M. D., Edmund Scott, Henry Edwards, John Melville, George

Daly, Robinson Gibbons, Gregory Yale, James Howden, George H. Fillmore,

Marshall Hastings, John L. Eckley and Lee J. Ransom were elected Resident

Members, and J. G. Cooper, M.D., a Life Member.

Donation to the Cabinet: A skull of a California Indian, taken from a

burial place in Alameda County, near Centreville, by Mr. L. G. Yates.

Donation to the Library: The Pacific Medical and Surgical Journal for

1865 and 1866, by Dr. H. Gibbons.

Prof. W. P. Blake read the following communication:

Notice of Fossil Elephants’ Teeth from the Northwest Coast.

BY W. P. BLAKE.

The two molar teeth of the extinct elephant which I

exhibit this evening were presented to me by Col. Bulkley,

Superintendent of the American and Russian Telegraph. One is

from the mouth of the Yukon River, and the other from St.

Paul’s Island, near the middle of Behring’s Sea. The remains

of elephants are abundant in both places. Tusks are sometimes

found, and one has been sent by Col. Bulkley to the Smithsonian

Institution. These new localities may be regarded as forming

a connecting link between those of Siberia and America, and

indicate the former continuous distribution of the ancient

elephant upon the two continents.

The following list of localities, known to me, of similar

fossils in California, will show that the elephant must have

been frequently seen here in very early times: At Mare Island;

in Placer County, near Forest Hill; in Tuolumne County, at

Columbia, Shaw’s Flat, Texas Flat and near Sonora; in Calaveras

County, at Knight’s Ferry; in Los Angeles County, at San Pedro.

The last is, I believe, the most southern point at which such

remains have been found in this State.

Mr. Falkenau read a paper on Peat, in which he gave an account of the

origin, distribution and uses of this material. In the discussion which

followed the reading of this communication, it was stated by Mr. Bolander

that no valuable beds of peat had yet been discovered on this coast.

Messrs. Keyes and Behr also commented on supposed discoveries of this

material in California. The peculiar climate of this region was noticed

as unfavorable to the development of this material.

Dr. H. Gibbon made some remarks on the simultaneity of storms on both

sides of this continent.

Prof. Whitney made some remarks supplementary to his communication to the

Academy in 1862, on the question—“Which is the highest mountain in the

United States, and which in North America?”

He remarked that but little had been done, outside of

California, during the last five years, towards improving

our knowledge of the topography of the western part of our

continent. Some valuable contributions to the physical

geography of the central portion of the eastern edge of the

Rocky Mountains, have been published by Drs. C. C. Parry

and Engelmann in the Transactions of the St. Louis Academy,

(1863 and 1866) and several peaks were measured by Dr.

Parry; but of these only two are located on any map, namely:

Long’s and Pike’s. Of these Long’s Peak is 13,456 feet, and

Pike’s, 14,215; this latter being the highest summit in the

Rocky Mountain range, at least within the borders of our own

territory. Of the continuation of the Rocky Mountains north

into British Columbia, but little is known. Some peaks are

said to be 16,000 feet and over in height; but it is believed

that no accurate measurements have been made in that region;

and, further, it is not at all in accordance with what we

have learned of the relation of peaks to passes in other

mountain chains, to suppose that when the passes are as low

as 5,000 feet, the mountains on either hand should rise to an

altitude of 16,000 feet. This would be more probable were the

high points volcanic cones; but this they are not supposed to

be. Lord Milton and Dr. Cheadle’s book, recently published,

gives no information as to the height of the peaks near the

pass traversed by their party, (the Leather Head Pass) except

a statement that one point, far exceeding all others in

elevation, was “from 10,000 to 15,000 feet high.”

Professor Whitney referred again to the fact that the height

of Mt. St. Elias, as given on the British Admiralty charts,

and probably from Sir Edward Belcher’s measurement, namely,

14,970 feet, was still ignored by all compilers of gazetteers

and geographies, even down to Ansted’s latest work, published

in 1867. The old figures, 17,854 feet, obtained from an old

Spanish document found in Mexico by Humboldt, have been shown

to be grossly exaggerated by two separate measurements of more

modern times.

The recent measurement of Mt. Hood by Mr. A. Wood, was

mentioned, and several reasons given why little weight should

be attached to it. If Mr. Wood’s measurement were correct, the

height of Mt. Hood must be nearly 4,000 feet greater than that

of Mt. Shasta, and so notable a fact would have been clearly

recognized by explorers, as it always has been that Mt. Shasta

itself is nearly that much higher than Lassen’s Peak. But, on

the other hand, experienced observers have stated that Mt.

Hood was not as high as Mt. Shasta, nor as Mt. Adams, or Mt.

Rainier, this last-named peak being, according to Wilkes,

only 12,300 feet. Again, Mt. Hood was roughly measured by Dr.

Vansant, and his result (11,934 feet) gives the height of that

mountain as less than that of Mt. Adams, also measured by him

with the same instrument, and this instrument could hardly have

been so rough and liable to error as the one employed by Mr.

Wood. Further, this last-named gentleman gives the limit of

forest vegetation on Mt. Hood as 9,000 feet, while our careful

observations on Mt. Shasta place it on that mountain, at 8,000

feet. It is certainly contrary to what we have everywhere

on this coast observed, to suppose that the limit to which

arboreal growth reaches, should not fall considerably in going

north three hundred miles, rather than rise 1,000 feet, as

would be the case if Mr. Wood’s measurements were correct.

Finally, that Mr. Wood’s figures are not very reliable is

shown by the fact, that on plotting his estimates of distances

traveled and the angles of the slopes as given by him, it was

found that, to correspond with his statements, the mountain

must be no less than 33,400 feet high.

Finally, Professor Whitney concluded that we have as yet no

satisfactory evidence to invalidate the statement previously

made by him, that we have in California the highest mountains

in the United States, and the grandest and largest mountain

mass in North America, although one or two of the volcanic

cones of Mexico rise to higher altitudes than any of our peaks.

Prof. Whitney also exhibited one of the short barometers made for the

Geological Survey, by James Green, of New York. Having had occasion to

work at high elevations—the party being sometimes, for weeks together,

camped at from 8,000 to 10,000 feet above the sea—it has been found that

the vacuum in the ordinary barometer tubes soon becomes deteriorated, and

the mercury dirty from the constant lowering and raising of the column,

which is required when a large number of observations are taken at so

great an elevation. By having the barometer tube made only long enough to

commence the reading at about twenty-four inches, or at an elevation of

6,000 or 7,000 feet, the difficulty above specified is to a great degree

avoided, and the instrument made much more portable and convenient to

carry, especially on peaks so steep that both hands are needed to aid

in climbing. Two of these short barometers have been used in the high

mountain work of the California Survey, and found extremely convenient.

Of course the short barometer must be compared with a long one at some

station camp of sufficiently great elevation to allow this to be done.

Dr. Gibbons made some remarks on the inferior quality of the macadamizing

material employed in this city. He inquired if any person knew of the

existence of any better stone for this purpose, in the vicinity of San

Francisco. Prof. Whitney replied that an excellent basaltic rock was

to be had in great abundance near Petaluma, at a point convenient for

shipment, and that there was no really valuable rock for macadamizing to

be had nearer than this point.

REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 4TH, 1867.

President in the Chair.

Twenty-nine members present.

Messrs. J. M. Sibley, William Norris, Henry Pickel, John W. Nystrom,

Ross E. Brown, Cornelius B. Miller and Theodore P. Painter were elected

Resident Members.

Donations to the Cabinet: “Electro-Silicon,” (Infusorial Silica) from

Six-Mile Cañon, near Virginia City, Nevada, from Dr. Lanszweert; Fossil

Fruit, from Long Valley, Mendocino County, from C. Beottie; Fossil

Shells, from the line of the Erie (Steuben County, N. Y.) Railroad, by A.

T. Beardsley; Magnesium Wire, by C. Z. Wilson; Fragment from the “Pyramid

of Cheops,” by Mr. Elliott; Two Specimens of Petrified Wood, from Sonoma

County, Package of Coffee Seed and Specimen of Nest of Trap-Door Spider,

from Dr. Kellogg.

Prof. Whitney announced the death of Alexander Dallas Bache, and read a

notice of his life and eminent scientific services.

Mr. Stearns read the following communication, prefacing it with some

remarks on the hibernation and æstivation of land shells:

Remarkable Instance of Vitality in a Snail.

In that invaluable work to the conchological student, entitled

“Recent and Fossil Shells,” by S. P. Woodward, pp. 18 and 19,

reference is made to certain genera and species of land shells,

and several instances are cited proving the remarkable vitality

of these comparatively insignificant animals, and their ability

to exist for great lengths of time without food.

Particular mention is made of a specimen of the snail _Helix

desertorum_, which was affixed to a tablet in the British

Museum, March 25th, 1846, and upon the 7th of March, 1850, it

was observed that the animal must have come out of the shell,

as the paper was discolored in the attempt to get away, but

finding escape impossible, it had withdrawn inside of the shell

and closed the aperture with the usual glistening film, which

led to its immersion in tepid water and marvelous recovery. It

will be noticed that this period embraced nearly four years.

A more remarkable case has come under my observation, which is

worthy of mention.

Dr. Veatch, a member of this Academy, visited Cerros or Cedros

Island, opposite the west coast of Lower California, and upon

his return, in the year 1859, brought home, among other

shells, a species of Helix, supposed to be new, described by

Dr. Newcomb, of Oakland, and to which the latter gave the

name of _Helix Veatchii_; many specimens of this species were

obtained, and some of them were given by Dr. Veatch to the late

Thomas Bridges. Mr. Bridges died in September, 1865, and in

December of the same year a portion of his collection passed

into my hands, including the same specimens of _Helix Veatchii_

to which I have before alluded. Judge of my surprise, when one

day, upon a careful examination, I detected a living specimen,

which, after being placed in a box of moist earth, in a short

time commenced crawling about, apparently as well as ever.

Fearing from its activity that by some accident it might crawl

away, and I might thus lose it, after a fortnight’s furlough

from its long imprisonment, I placed it in a pill-box, marking

the date of its reimprisonment upon the cover, in order that

at some future time I may examine it, and ascertain possibly,

if it does not outlive _me_, how long a snail can live without

rations.

Here is an instance of a snail living at least six years—in

Californian parlance, without a single “square meal.”

Mr. Bolander made some remarks in regard to the botanical collections of

Mr. Alphonso Wood, in California and Oregon, in 1866.

Mr. Wood claims to have collected in five months, in

California, 1,490 species of flowering plants, as appears by a

letter over his own signature in the San Francisco Bulletin;

furthermore, he also asserts, that during his whole journey

in California and Oregon he collected 15,000 specimens,

representing 2,794 species of plants. This journey occupied

about eleven months, including the time spent in coming from

and returning to the East. The route of Mr. Wood was from

San Diego north, through the regions which have been most

thoroughly collected over and studied by botanists, namely,

along the stage road to Los Angeles and San Bernardino, then to

San Louis Obispo, Santa Cruz, and north through the Sacramento

Valley, past the base of Mount Shasta, and along the stage road

to the Columbia River. Mr. Bolander considered it probable that

there were not over 500 species of flowering plants actually

existing in that part of California explored by Mr. Wood,

and in which he professes to have collected 1,490 species.

According to Professor Brewer’s careful investigations, it

appears that over fifty botanists have collected in California

and Oregon, during a period extending back for more than

seventy years. Some of these collectors were engaged for years

in the business, and had far greater facilities at their

command than those enjoyed by Mr. Wood, and they have jointly

thoroughly explored a far greater area than that even hastily

passed over by him. Yet, the sum total of all the species

obtained, up to the time of Mr. Wood’s visit, is only about

1,800 species, while he claims to have found 2,794; that is to

say, nearly 1,000 species more than had been brought to light

by fifty persons in seventy years. The absurdity of Mr. Wood’s

claims is self-evident. But, a comparison of his figures with

those of Eastern botanists will throw still further light

on this subject. Professor Gray enumerates, in his manual,

only 2,426 species of plants as occurring in the eighteen

Northern United States and Canada East, embracing an area of

no less than 600,000 square miles. The whole of California and

Oregon includes only about 250,000 square miles, only a very

small portion of which could have been thoroughly explored by

Mr. Wood; how unlikely, then, that he should have actually

obtained, in nine months, 368 species more on 250,000 square

miles, than all the botanists of the East have found on more

than double that area. Mr. Bolander also brought forward

ample evidence to show that Mr. Wood was not competent to

determine how many new species he had collected, proving by the

written statements of Dr. Kellogg, and others, that he was not

acquainted with some of the most common and easily recognized

genera of this coast.

Dr. Gibbons made some remarks on the rain-fall of this region during the

last seventeen years.

Mr. Gutzkow exhibited a sheet of metallic silver of three feet in

diameter, and about three ounces Troy weight, which had the appearance

and consistency of white writing paper. It was taken from the surface

of a lead-lined tank, in which a solution of protoxide of iron was

saturated, near the boiling point, with sulphate of silver. If the

temperature of the solution is maintained at a certain height, sheet

after sheet can be stripped off from the surface. The silver thus

obtained, is, after washing with muriatic acid to free it from the iron

solution, chemically pure, and by its peculiar shape and purity, well

adapted to serve as proof silver for assaying purposes. The experiment

will work only when operating on a rather large scale, so as to prevent

the too sudden cooling of the solution. The chemical action to which it

is due is the oxydation of the protoxide of iron into sesquioxide at the

expense of the oxygen combined with the silver. This oxydation, which

is known to precipitate the silver as a whitish powder, begins to take

place only at a certain temperature below the boiling point, and is made,

in the above experiment, to act on the crystals of sulphate of silver

separating on the surface of the slowly cooling solution.

REGULAR MEETING, MARCH 18TH, 1867.

President in the Chair.

Twenty-six members present.

Messrs. Elisha Brooks, Ellis H. Holmes, L. C. Lane, M.D., John C. Pelton,

J. M. Sharkey, M.D., J. A. Bauer, and Robert Hagen, were elected Resident

Members, and W. H. Dall a Corresponding Member.

Donations to the Cabinet: Crystal of Borax, from Borax Lake, by Mr.

Lightner; a Bald Eagle, by Dr. Ayres; a specimen of Wallapi Food, by

Frank S. Alling, El Dorado Cañon; gold-bearing Quartz, from South

Carolina, by Gregory Yale; Wolf Fish, from Frank Johnson; specimen of

_Bdellostoma_, from Dr. Canfield.

Dr. Cooper presented the following paper:

The West Coast Helicoid Land Shells.

BY J. G. COOPER, M.D.

In the article on p. 259, Vol. III, of these Proceedings for

April 2d, 1866, I suggested a division of the Californian

Banded Helices into five subgenera, founded on the shells

alone. Since then, Mr. G. W. Tryon has published a synopsis of

all of them except _H. facta_ in his “Journal of Conchology,”

Vol. II, Part 4, for October, 1866, arranging them in the

“genera” _Aglaia_, _Arianta_ and _Polymita_, but differing

essentially from Albers and other authors in the species he

assigns to these groups. The types of these subgenera, however,

differ so much from our species that it is easy to separate

the shells by good subgeneric characters; and as they inhabit

respectively South America, Europe, and Cuba, it is very

probable that the animals differ still more. Until these have

been compared, we may well hesitate in referring ours to the

same groups, and must for the present be guided by the shells

alone.

In examining these, the most striking and almost universal

character we find is the presence of a dark band, generally

pale margined, on one or both sides, and situated at or close

to the breathing aperture in the animal’s mantle, apparently

having some physiological connection with this opening. It is

too uniform and general to be merely an ornamental marking,

such as we find in many species, especially the tropical, which

usually show no uniformity in the arrangement of their bands.

The next most constant characters are those derived from the

nature of the surface, whether hirsute, with revolving grooves,

smooth or variously sculptured, with wrinkles, zigzag or

oblique patterns.

Although colors alone are usually unreliable as subgeneric

characters, I am inclined to consider them as such in the

case of these and some allied species, from their apparent

connection with important organs. In fact the band, so

constant in this large series of species, takes precedence of

considerable variety of form, for the variations in outline,

umbilicus, and peristome, though great in the extremes, are

so gradually shaded and blended together in the whole series

that no well-defined generic divisions can be founded on them,

though useful for the minor grouping. The umbilicus especially

is variable even in specimens of the same species, those from

southern and arid regions being often nearly imperforate, and

more conical than others.

Several Mexican species belong to the same series, such as H.

REMONDII _Tryon_, H. GRISEOLA _Pfeiff_, and H. BERLANDIERIANA

_Moric._, the two last extending to Texas. Others, as H.

HUMBOLDTIANA _Val._, scarcely differ from the typical _Pomatia_

in form. I would, however, exclude the true _Hygromias_

associated with these by Tryon. I would also exclude the plain

or variegated species of Lower California, which approach

nearer to _Polymita_. It must be observed that many of our

species approach in form to others of allied groups, so that

if we overlook characters of color and surface, we will be

inclined to place in the same groups, Nos. 40 and 52, 24

and 32, 29 and 47, etc. Even in color Nos. 32 to 35 show an

approach to the group of Lower California, but seem more

closely allied to our series, having merely a geographical

affinity to the former. Size is of little value, even as a

specific character among the land shells, nearly all the

species furnishing specimens twice as large as others of the

same kind. The proportions of height to breadth are more

reliable, but not constant.

The subgenus or division characterized by the band is scarcely

distinguishable as a whole from the typical _Helix_, (type

_pomatia_) of Europe, though the extremes vary greatly,

simulating the three or more foreign genera to which various

authors have attached them.[32]

Our species are distinct enough among themselves when the true

specific characters here given are noted, though occasionally

hybrids undoubtedly occur. Dr. W. Newcomb has raised many

specimens in his garden in Oakland, combining the characters

of Nos. 24, 25, 29, 31, and 43, in such manner that it is

often impossible to determine which they belong to. Yet their

natural locations are usually so widely separated that only

occasionally can hybrids occur in a state of nature, and where

several do inhabit one locality, as 24, 27, 28, 46 do at Santa

Cruz, though nearly allied, intermediate forms are not found.

Some of the so-called species are, however, scarcely more than

hybrids or varieties, but the names are retained as indicating

their differences, though almost every species is divisible

into varieties as well marked or better. Thus the specimen

described on p. 260 of this volume (from Mount Diablo) seems to

be a hybrid between _mormonum_ and _ramentosa_, and we also

find specimens connecting the latter with 25, 26, and perhaps

others.

Occasional links also occur, connecting many others of the

banded species together.

A similar intermixing of species, where nearly allied, occurs

among our marine shells wherever two or more encroach on each

other’s limits; but the comparative rarity of the intermediate

forms seems to indicate hybridity rather than specific identity

of their allies.

It is probable that groups X and XI and XIII and XIV should be

united, as the distinctive characters between them are not of

first importance, and species of each are very closely similar

otherwise. Parallel columns may be formed, as indicated on p.

260, in which close resemblances in form, number of whorls,

etc., between species of the different groups may be shown,

and this may be extended so as to show analogous parallels

with those of other sub-families, or even families, but these

resemblances do not indicate affinity, though very likely to

mislead. A geographical arrangement of some groups is also

indicated, though imperfectly, as there are no impassable

limits between them. For special localities of many species,

see vol. III, pp. 62, 115, 180, 259, and II, 91, 103.[33]

The Darwinian theory of development might be very beautifully

illustrated by these banded snails, if we could find evidence

that their various forms had all originated from a common

stock (which might be the _ramentosa_, as that species now

occupies a nearly central locality). But though fossil forms

have been found differing considerably from their present

representatives, there are others apparently as old, which show

no such differences, and none of them show a tendency towards

any common original type. The one referred to by Professor

Whitney on p. 278, as found with the human skull of supposed

pliocene (?) age, does not differ perceptibly from specimens

of _mormonum_, now living near the locality. It retains even

its band of color, which is soon lost in specimens imbedded

near the surface, and this (if not preserved by its deep burial

or incrustation) is strong evidence against a great antiquity

of the skull. All other fossil Helicoids are considered

postpliocene, at least so far as known in this State, though

extinct species occur in Europe as far back as the Eocene.

The bandless species of the west coast slope, from lat. 33°

to 49°, are added to the synopsis, to show their relations

and analogies with the banded. The arrangement followed is

essentially that of Tryon, except the addition of some he has

omitted, or not yet published. The generic divisions are also

reduced to groups, as the true generic characters are not yet

settled. The lip is entirely wanting in the first family,

but in the bandless _Helicidæ_ of this coast, it becomes of

great importance for grouping of species, (49 to 55) of which

we have very few, while east of the Rocky Mountains there

are more than fifty. Group III is also largely developed on

the Atlantic slopes. The tendency now is to divide too much,

which is as unnatural as to unite all under genus HELIX, as

many still do. It is probable that the divisions here called

subfamilies, answer more nearly to the true genera than any

others, though they require modification, and the selection

of names applicable to them as genera, is a difficult task. To

undertake to distinguish genera by the lingual teeth, mucous

pores, or any other single character of the soft parts, is

less practicable than to do it by the shells alone, and little

if any more reliable. There may, however, be foreign shells

closely resembling ours in form, which must still be separated

on account of the animal.

I have omitted most of the compound terms used by authors to

describe the forms or shells, as they are not used with any

uniform system, and do not well define the differences between

the various species of the same group. The dimensions are

more reliable for separating allied forms. “Striæ” is also an

indefinite term, used by various authors for lines of growth,

revolving grooves or stripes of color, and is therefore never

used alone in this article.

It is remarkable that no _reversed_ species or variety has yet

been found west of the Rocky Mountains.

Order PULMONIFERA.

Mollusca with or without shells, breathing by lungs, inhabiting

the land, fresh or salt waters.

Subord. GEOPHILA.

Terrestrial Molluscs. Section with external rounded shells.

NOTE.—The * indicates the original measurement of authors, in

hundredths of an inch.

=A.= Shell with edge of mouth sharp.

Fam. _Helicellidæ_. Shell corneous, thin, polished,

translucent, sometimes with internal teeth.

Subfam. _Vitrininæ_. Shell very fragile, whorls 2 or 3, the

last greatly expanded, not covering the animal.

I Genus BINNEYA Cp. Ear-shaped, nearly flat, one-third the

length of animal, spire none, corneous.

=1 notabilis= _Cp._ Whorls 2, pale brown, first with 30

delicate revolving ribs, epidermis expanded; diam. *0.46, alt.

0.12 in.

II Genus VITRINA Drap. Depressed subglobose, last whorl very

large, swollen, imperforate, shining.

=2 Pfeifferi= _Newc._ Wh. 3, greenish white, suture finely

margined, columella arched, spire flattened, diam. *0.19, axis

0.09.

Subfam. _Helicellinæ_. Shell thin, translucent, whorls 4 to 6,

mouth moderate, surface smooth, pitted below or perforated.

III Group. HYALINA Feruss. Depressed globose, moderately

umbilicate, or pitted, vitreous, shining, whorls uniform.

=3 Breweri= _Newc._ Wh. 5, pale corneous, umbilicus large,

suture slightly channeled, aperture lunar; diam. *0.20, axis

0.10.

IV Group. MACROCYCLIS Beck. Discoid, widely umbilicate, growth

lines often coarse, last whorl usually deflexed.

=4 Newberryana= _W. G. Binn._ Wh. 6, reddish-brown, flattened,

mouth not deflexed, fine revolving striæ; diam. 1.43, axis

0.50.

=5 Vancouverensis= _Lea._ Wh. 5, yellowish-green, shining, very

slight revolving grooves; diam. 1.10 to *1.25, axis 0.40.

=6 sportella= _Gould._ Wh. 5, pale-greenish, growth lines

coarse, crossed by revolving grooves; diam. *0.50 to 0.70, axis

0.20 to 0.25.

=7 Voyana= _Newc._ Wh. 5, pale corneous, mouth much sinuated

above, body whorl crossed by a thick callus; diam. *0.50, axis

0.15 to 0.20.

Subfam. _Gastrodontinæ_. Generally depressed conic, and

lamellarly toothed inside, growth lines distinct, small.

V Group. CONULUS Fitz. minute, conoid, whorls 4 to 6, narrow,

aperture basal, transverse, perforate or not, without teeth.

=8 chersina= _Say._ Wh. 5-6, amber-yellow, imperforate, base

indurated, smooth, shining; diam. 0.10 to 0.12, axis, 0.08.

=9 chersinella= _Dall._ Wh. 4½ to 5, yellowish, narrowly

perforate, mouth oblique, growth ribs distinct; diam. *0.14,

axis 0.09.

Subfam. _Patulinæ_. Thickish, epidermis opaque, form discoidal

to subglobose, umbilicate, often striped or hirsute.

VI Group. PSEUDOHYALINA Morse. Minute, convex discoid, nearly

smooth, umbilicate, unicolor, whorls 3 to 5.

=10 milium= _Morse_. Wh. 3, greenish white, plano-convex,

translucent, minute revolving grooves; diam. 0.05, axis 0.02.

Nevada Co. and Angel Island, _Rowell_, Monterey, _Canfield_,

San Francisco and Santa Cruz, rare. No revolving grooves seen.

=11 minuscula= _Binn._ Wh. 4, whitish, nearly flat, mouth

sub-oval, whorls narrow, smooth, a parietal callus; diam. 0.09,

axis 0.01.

=12 conspecta= _Bland_. Wh. 4, dark corneous, obtuse convex,

smooth, mouth sub-circular, oblique; diam. 0.08 to 0.10, axis

0.04 to 0.05.

VII Group. PATULA _Held_. Size moderate, convex-discoid,

concave below, umbilicus showing all the whorls, unicolor.

=13 Hornii= _Gabb._ Wh. 4½, opaque, brown, _sparsely hirsute_,

spire flattened, umbilicus a little contracted; diam. *0.16,

axis 0.09.

=14 Whitneyi= _Newc._ Wh. 4, smoky-brown, smooth, nearly flat,

umbilicus plainly perspective; diam. *0.20, axis 0.10.

=15 Cronkhitei= _Newc._ Wh. 4, yellowish corneous, a little

convex, growth-ribs distinct, not plainly perspective; diam.

*0.20, axis 0.15.

=16 striatella= _Anth._ Wh. 3-4, pale corneous, depressed

convex, umbilicus large, shallow, growth-ribs faint; diam.

0.20, axis 0.15. The west slope specimens may be all of last

species.

=17 Durantii= _Newc._ Wh. 4, light corneous, flat above, nearly

smooth, umbilicus perspective, opaque; diam. *0.20, axis 0.07.

VIII Group. HELICODISCUS? Morse. Planorboid, whorls visible

below, several sets of internal teeth. (“POLYGYRA” Tryon, part.)

=18 polygyrella= _Bland_. Wh. 7 to 8, yellowish horn color, 3

teeth opposite mouth, 3 nearer mouth, 1 parietal; diam. *0.44,

axis 0.19.

IX Group. ANGUISPIRA Morse. Large, rather heavy, subturbinate,

strongly ribbed, grooved or striped, umbilicate.

=19 Idahoensis= _Newc._ Wh. 5, ashy corneous, very convex, 20

to 25 strong ribs on last whorl, fewer above; diam. *0.52, axis

0.45.

=20 Cooperii= _W. G. Binn._ Wh. 5 to 6, white, 1 or 2 brown

distant bands or mottlings, fine revolving grooves; diam. 0.58

to 0.98, axis 0.35 to 0.37.

[34] =21 solitaria= _Say._ Wh. 6, white to dark brown, 1 to 4

brown bands, or a var. (?) brown, with 1 pale band; diam. 1.00,

axis 0.80.

=22 strigosa= _Gould._ Wh. 5, ashy to brown, usually 5 to 8

banded below middle, angled or carinate, revolving grooves;

diam. 0.75 to 1.00, axis 0.28 to 0.50.

_N.B._ Nos. 13, 16, 18, and Group IX are found only east of

California.

B. Shell with a distinct thickened lip.

Fam. _Helicidæ_. Epidermis thickish, opaque, colored, lip

thickened, expanded, reflected or toothed. Large or moderate.

Genus HELIX _Linn_. Form globose—conic to depressed carinate;

umbilicus wide to very small or covered; lip thickened,

sometimes a little expanded, and rarely tuberculate below, or

continuous across body whorl. Color, (in our species) yellowish

brown to black, with a darker band around the periphery and

sutural region, generally margined on each side (at least when

young) by a pale one.

†Band triple in young and thin specimens, (wanting in

varieties. Bandless specimens of Nos. 24, 25, 27, 28, 33, have

been noticed.) Colors, uniform brown or olivaceous, sometimes

mottled. Obliquely reticulate grooved, or wrinkled-malleated.

From forests of oak, etc., in middle regions, or moderate

elevations southward.

X Group. (“ARIANTA” Albers, No. 23. “POLYMITA” Tryon, No. 24.)

Form resembling _H. pomatia_, sculpture in zigzag or divaricate

grooves. Subimperforate.

=23 Californiensis= _Lea._ Wh. 5, yellowish-olive, thin, band

pale-margined, sculpture faint, subglobose; diam. 0.75 to 0.88,

axis 0.56 to 0.62.

=24 redimita= _W. G. Binn._ Wh. (4½) 5½ to 6, reddish brown,

band single, umbil. small or none; (var. of 25?) diameter 0.80,

axis 0.48.

XI Group. (ARIANTA and AGLAIA part., auct.) Form much like

_Arianta arbustorum_, sculpture like last. Umbilicate.

=25 Nickliniana= _Lea._ Wh. 6 to 7, yellowish-brown, oblique

grooved, wrinkled or malleated, umbil. small; diam. 0.72 to

1.05, axis 0.42 to 0.80.

=26 Bridgesii= _Newc._ (Not of Tryon, 1866.) Wh. 6, grayish

corneous, thinner, band broader, umbil. wider than 25 (a

var.?); diam. *1.00, axis 0.73.

=27 arrosa= _Gld._ Wh. 5½ to 7, brown, mottled yellow, (vars.

yellow or olive, bandless) wrinkled malleate; diam. 1.10 to

*1.60, axis 0.59 to 0.90.

=28 exarata= _Pfeiff._ (Not of Weigm. = cælatura _Fer._) Wh.

6 to 7, yellow, or olive and brown mixed, strongly wrinkled,

faintly malleate; diam. 0.75 to 1.15, axis 0.40 to 0.62.

=29 ramentosa= _Gld._ Wh. 5½ to 6½, yellowish brown, thin,

oblique grooved, sometimes wrinkled; diam. 0.70 to 1.30, axis

0.57 to 0.90.

=30 reticulata= _Pfeiff._ “Wh. 5½, reddish brown, band single,

sculpture like 29,” (probably a var.); diam. *0.85, axis 0.47.

=31 tudiculata= _Binn._ Wh. 5 to 5½, brown or olive, band wide,

paler margined, malleate, body whorl swollen; diam. 0.90 to

1.40, axis 0.45 to 0.80.

XII Group. (“POLYMITA” Tryon, part, “ARIANTA” Albers. part.)

Sub-globose conic; axis, 0.6 to 0.8 diam.; band single,

obscure, or none, often mottled; smooth or with revolving

grooves, sub-imperforate. Usually paler below.

=32 Kellettii= _Forbes_. Wh. 5, reddish with pale mottling in

bands, faint revolving or oblique grooves; diam. 0.72 to 1.20,

axis 0.48 to 0.68.

=33 crebristriata= _Newc._ Wh. 5, dark corneous, band obscure

or none, lip sometimes continuous; diam. *0.92, axis 0.55 to

0.80.

=34 intercisa= _W. G. Binn_. Wh. 5, grayish or brown, band

obscure, deeply grooved, lip thick, continuous, tubercled; (=

33 var.?) diam. *0.84, axis 0.57. “_Hab._ probably San Miguel

I.” _Newcomb_, from worn specimens in his museum, not “Oregon.”

=35 Tryoni= _Newc._ Wh. 5½ to 6, bluish or mottled, pale below,

band faint, lower lip sometimes tubercled; diam. *0.80, axis

0.55.

=36 Carpenteri= _Newc._ Wh. 5½, brownish white, band faint,

fine revolving grooves, mouth subcircular; diam. *0.90, axis

0.64.

=37? Rowellii= _Newc._ “Wh. 4½, opaque white, no band, or

sculpture” (bleached?), mouth subcircular, umbilicate; diam.

*0.60, axis 0.40. (Unique specimen, and may be of the Mexican

group, like _lævis_, etc.)

“Arianta” Remondii _Tryon_, and “Galaxias” griseola and

Berlandieriana, of Mexico, seem to connect this group with the

next.

†† Band triple, colors strongly defined.

XIII Group. (AGLAIA _Alb._ part.) Generally lower than group

XII, and lip more expanded, umbilicus large or moderate, with

revolving grooves, or smooth.

‡ Colors light, often palest below. Inhabit dry or treeless

regions, from lat. 32° to 36°.

=38 facta= _Newc._ Wh. 5 to 5½, white, or brownish above, lip

yellow, umbil. nearly covered; diam. *0.42, axis 0.22.

=39 Gabbii= _Newc._ Wh. 5, band margins and grooves obsolete;

(unique, between 38 and 40;) diam. *0.40, axis 0.20.

=40 rufocincta= _Newc._ Wh. 5 to 6, pale brown, depressed,

umbil. moderate, lip broad; diam. 0.50 to 0.85, axis 0.22 to

0.45.

=41 Traskii= _Newc._ Wh. 6 to 6½, like last, but umbil. larger,

lip thinner, usually higher; diam. 0.90 to 1.00, axis 0.40 to

0.62.

=42 Ayresiana= _Newc._ Wh. 6 to 7, yellowish, paler below,

strongly grooved, spire elevated; diam. *0.80, axis 0.55.

“Santa Cruz I., Cal.” Newcomb coll.

‡‡ Colors dark, often paler above. Inhabit damp coniferous

forests, lat. 37° to 50°.

=43 Dupetithouarsii= _Desh._ Wh. 7 to 8, brown or olive, band

margins whitish, grooves obsolete, often submalleate; diam.

0.90 to *1.20, axis 0.54 to *0.60.

=44 fidelis= _Gray._ Wh. 6½ to 7, band and beneath black, band

margins and above red or yellow (a hybrid? var., black, and

becoming slightly angled); diam. 1.12 to 1.50, axis 0.60 to

0.90. “Oregonensis” _Lea_, may be = 44 jun.

XIV Group. (AGLAIA Albers, part.) Depressed, usually subangled,

hirsute or bristle marked, umbil. large.

=45 infumata= _Gld._ Chestnut to black, a single band sometimes

visible, angled, lip thin, bristles deciduous; (closely allied

to black var. of 44;) diam. 1.40 to *1.50, axis 0.54 to 0.60.

=46 sequoicola= _Cp._ Wh. 6½, dark brown, rounded, bristles

only in young, leaving marks; diam. *1.08 to 1.20, axis 0.50 to

0.54.

=47 Mormonum= _Pfeiff._ Wh. 6 to 6½, brown, depressed,

sometimes subangled, sometimes bristle marked; diam. 0.95 to

1.30, axis 0.50 to 0.54.

=48 Hillebrandi= _Newc._ Wh. 6, yellowish brown, bands hid by

persistent long bristles, subcarinate, lip broad; diam. 0.80 to

0.96, axis 0.35 to 0.40.

=C.= Bandless; lip more developed, reflected, often toothed at

the base.

Genus MESODON _Raf._ Lip broadly expanded, often 1-3 toothed,

or with parietal tooth only, sometimes none; corneous.

XV Group. (“ARIANTA.”) Toothless, umbilicus large, surface

coarsely wrinkled or granulate, lip broad, reflexed.

=49 Townsendiana= _Lea._ Wh. 5½, to 6, mixed yellow and brown,

body whorl coarsely wrinkled, fine revolving grooves; diam.

0.68 to 1.38, axis 0.35 to 0.55.[35]

=50 anachoreta= _W. G. Binn._ “Wh. 6, reddish ashen, granulated

and sparsely indented;” diam. *1.00, axis 0.54.

XVI Group. ODOTROPIS _Raf._ “Tooth upon columella, umbilicus

covered.” Lower lip tuberculate, and a parietal tooth.

=51 devia= _Gld._ Wh. 6, brown or olive, no sculpture except

distinct lines of growth; diam. 0.80, axis 0.45.

XVII Group. APLODON _Raf._ One parietal tooth, (or none)

perforate or imperforate, hirsute or smooth, lip simple.

=52 Columbiana= _Lea._ Wh. 5½ to 6, corneous brown, with or

without hairs, umbilicate; diam. 0.50 to 0.70, axis 0.25 to

0.35. The small imperforate and toothed form usually classed

with this species may better be considered a rounded var. of

_germana_, the subangled form of which is very rare.

=53 germana= _Gld._ “Wh. 5½, reddish corneous, hirsute,

subangled, one parietal tooth, imperforate;” diam. *0.30, axis

0.20.

XVIII Group. TRIODOPSIS _Raf._ “Umbil. large, a tooth on each

lip, and one parietal.” Sometimes hirsute, hairs deciduous.

=54 Mullani= _Bld._ Wh. 5½ to 6, brownish corneous, microscopic

spiral lines and tubercles; (hairy?) diameter *0.53, axis 0.29.

=55 loricata= _Gld._ Wh. 5½, brown or greenish, scale-like

wrinkles quincuncially arranged; diam. *0.25 to 0.35, axis

*0.10 to 0.20.

I am indebted to Dr. Newcomb and Mr. R. E. C. Stearns for

much assistance in preparing this paper. Though not offered

as a final arrangement of the species, it is hoped that this

synopsis may aid in their determination, and thus make a step

towards a correct systematizing of this difficult series.

There are four or five other subgenera among the 50 species

of this family in the Atlantic States, divided by Bland into

fifteen groups. He places Nos. 51, 54, and 53 in his 8th, 9th,

and 15th groups respectively.—(Ann. N. Y. Lyc. N. H. 1864.)

[32] Extreme specimens of _H. arrosa_ found by Mr. Gabb in

Mendocino County, Cal., its northern limit, and also one of

_H. redimita_ found in Alameda County by Mr. Holder, have

exactly the form of _H. pomatia_, and in each case have one

and a half whorls less than the types, indicating perhaps that

the usual forms found here are higher developed than the type

of the genus. (A genus _Pomatia_ has also been founded on this

type of the Linnæan genus _Helix_.)

_Aglaia_ was used by Escholtz, 1825, in Acalephæ, by Swainson,

1827, in Birds, and by Renier Philinidæ, before Albers adopted

it in this order!!

[33] See, also, the “Geographical Catalogue of West Coast

Mollusca,” published by the State Geological Survey, April,

1867.

[34] The west slope specimens may be all of species 20.

[35] A specimen figured by Mr. Tryon in the last number of the

“Journal” just received, (May, 1867), as “var. _minor_,” from

Idaho and Nebraska, seems to have an obscure band, which,

together with its form and want of wrinkles, indicate entire

distinctness from _Townsendiana_. The small form of the latter

found by me in Montana has no band, and seems close to Binney’s

_anachoreta_, of which supposed specimens from “Oregon” are

in Mr. Rowell’s collection. The Eastern _Mesodon clausa_,

_elevata_ and perhaps others, have been found banded

occasionally, but without the paler margins, and only

as an exception.

Prof. W. P. Blake read the following:

Origin of the Submerged Forests in the Columbia River, Oregon.

BY WM. P. BLAKE.

The submerged forests of fir trees, extending about twenty-five

miles along the Columbia River, above the Cascades, have long

excited the curiosity of travelers upon that stream. The trees

stand erect as they grew, but the tops have decayed and broken

off, leaving only those portions of the trees that have been

protected from the air by the covering of water. At extreme

high-water very few of these old trunks can be seen, but at

low-water they appear in great numbers, and project a few

inches or feet above the surface, and in some places they

extend far out into the stream.

These trees are not petrified, as is supposed by many. The

outer portions are much softened and partly decayed, but

towards the heart the wood is sound, and appears to be

identical in character with the fir which covers the mountains

around. Some cedar stumps are also found.

It is well known that fir trees will not grow below the

high-water mark of our streams, or where the roots would be

subject to overflows. Flooding the roots of the fir even for a

few days is sufficient to destroy its life. It is thus clear

that there has been a change in the level of the water since

the forests grew. Either the land has sunk or the water has

been raised: the latter appears to have been the fact.

The river at the Cascades, just below the submerged forests,

plunges over great masses of a hard volcanic conglomerate,

which forms the base of the cliffs on each side. This

conglomerate, which is 150 to 200 feet thick, rests upon a

stratum of sandy clay. This stratum is much softer than the

conglomerate, and yields more rapidly to the action of running

water. It may be seen when the water is low, at the foot of the

Cascades, with the hard conglomerate overhanging it in large

masses.

From all these facts, it appears that the river, in cutting

its way downwards through the Cascade Range, reached this soft

substratum, and for a long time flowed in a comparatively

unobstructed channel at a much lower level than now, thus

permitting the forests to grow along its banks. The extensive

undermining of the conglomerate caused it at length to fall

into the stream, and this, together with the sliding in of

the banks upon this soft foundation, I regard as forming the

obstruction which dammed the waters and caused the overflow of

the forests above.

The mountains rise on each side to a height of 2,500 or 3,000

feet, and are composed of nearly horizontal beds of lava. One

of these mountains on the right bank, or Washington Territory

side, presents vertical cliffs towards the Cascades, and these

cliffs have a _freshly broken_ appearance, as if a large part

of the mountain had _broken off_ at no very remote period. The

surface of the country between this cliff and the Cascades is

very much broken, and the railroad which traverses it, exposes

enormous masses of the conglomerate, piled confusedly together

as if they had been hurled down by a land-slide. Mr. Brazee,

the engineer of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, informs

me that the ground is in constant motion toward the river, and

it has necessitated the relaying of the track within the past

year. The same phenomena have been observed on the left bank,

or Oregon side. The bank is in constant motion there, and at

low-water a fine blue clay may be seen rising in the channel,

as if crowded out by the pressure of the rocks above. As there

has not been any perceptible change of level in the stream for

years past, we may conclude that the erosive action of the

current is fully equal to the encroachment of the banks.

The Indians of the Columbia have a tradition of a great

convulsion at the Cascades. They assert that the Chinook canoes

formerly ascended the river as far as a water-fall at the

Dalles, passing, at the Cascades, _under a bridge of rock_.

This bridge, or arch of rock, they say, fell in at the time of

a quarrel between the two mountains, Mt. Hood and St. Helen’s,

and at the same time the waterfall at the Dalles was destroyed,

so that salmon could ascend to the Upper Columbia. Before that

the fall was so high that salmon could not get up, and all the

upper country Indians were obliged to go to the Dalles for

their supply.

The general accuracy of this tradition seems highly probable.

The Dalles are now a succession of rapids and low falls, in a

narrow channel, between vertical walls of basaltic lava. There

is very little fall or current in the river below the Dalles to

the Cascades, and the elevation of the water by an obstruction

at the latter point would in all probability affect the height

of the lower fall at the Dalles.

The sandy substratum of the coarse conglomerate at the Cascades

is evidently an old river or beach deposit. It is accompanied

by layers of round water-worn rocks, and is filled with trunks

of trees lying prostrate. These trees are fossilized. Some

of them are half coal and half stone. The central portions

are usually coal-like or carbonized, and the outer parts

silicified. They vary in size, from a few inches to six feet

in diameter, and are nearly all flattened by pressure. This

stratum is evidently the source of the great quantities of

silicified wood which are found about the Cascades.

Mr. Stearns read the following note on a large specimen of _Orthagoriscus

analis_, Ayres:

In passing through the Italian Fish Market in this City, in

the month of October, 1866, I noticed an unusually large

specimen of _Orthagoriscus analis_, commonly called “Sun Fish,”

described by Dr. Ayres on page 31 of Vol. II of the Academy

Proceedings. Curiosity led me to make a measurement, which I

find in my note-book as follows: length from snout to extreme

caudal point, 5 feet 8¼ inches; from tip of dorsal to tip of

anal fin, 7 feet 6 inches. I found the anal and dorsal fins to

be nearly the same length, measuring from the tip to junction

with body 23 inches. Weight, as stated by the fishermen, 632

pounds. It will be seen that the measurement from tip to tip of

fins as above, exceeds the length by 21¾ inches.

Mr. Stearns made the following remarks as to the true habitat of _Helix

Ayresiana_, Newc.:

On page 103, Vol. II, of the Academy’s Proceedings, may be

found, under date of March 18th, 1861, the description by Dr.

W. Newcomb of a _Helix H. Ayresiana_, the habitat of which was,

as I learn from Dr. N., doubtfully assigned at that time to

“Northern Oregon.” Recently Dr. Newcomb has himself detected it

on Santa Cruz Island, off the Coast of California, near Santa

Barbara.

Professor Whitney exhibited a sample of the coal used at Salt Lake City,

taken by Mr. Ives, chief of one of the Central Pacific Railroad surveying

parties, from a wagon on its way from the mines to the city. The locality

from which it was obtained is in Webber Cañon, and the geological age of

the deposit is supposed to be cretaceous. The quality of the coal seems

to be good; but nothing very definite could be communicated in regard to

the extent or geological position of the bed.

Professor Whitney also exhibited a specimen of very pure rock salt,

obtained from the Salt Mountain on the Muddy River, a branch of the

Virgin, nearly a hundred miles south of Pahranagat, by Major S. S. Lyon,

formerly of the Kentucky Geological Survey. Major Lyon being present,

at the request of the President, gave an account of this interesting

locality, which is one long known to explorers. He stated that the Salt

Mountain lies on both sides of the Muddy River, and rises 400 feet above

that stream. The locality is about thirty miles northeast of Colville,

and twenty from the Colorado. Major Lyon also gave some facts in regard

to the geology of the vicinity of Pahranagat, where he had been residing

for some months past.

Professor Whitney presented two analyses of ores from the Comstock Lode,

Virginia City, Nevada, made by Professor Domeyko, of Santiago, Chile, and

communicated by Mr. Rémond, who is now residing in that place. They are

as follows:

I. II.

Gold, 1.10 0.18

Silver, 15.90 8.90

Lead, 27.30 10.00

Zinc, 23.40 21.70

Iron, 2.80 12.00

Copper, 2.00 —

Antimony, 1.30 —

Sulphur, 18.70 26.90

Matrix, 7.50 20.32

------ ------

100.00 100.00

The name of the mine from which they were taken was not given.

Mr. Yale brought up the subject of the gold mines in Africa, supposed to

be worked by the Emperor Napoleon III, and kept secret from the world in

general. A discussion ensued, in the course of which Professor Whitney

and Mr. Ashburner expressed their doubts as to the possibility of the

locality of any extensive mining operations being long concealed, and

their disbelief in the truth of newspaper statements to this effect.

REGULAR MEETING, APRIL 1ST, 1867.

Prof. W. P. Blake in the Chair.

Thirty-two members present.

Messrs. Samuel I. C. Swezey, J. D. Farwell, Frederick Madge, D. J.

Littlefield, Archibald Cooper, Samuel Pillsbury, Arthur W. Saxe, M.D.,

and Bernhard Marks, were elected Resident Members.

Donations to the Cabinet: A case of Butterflies, from the East India

Islands and Brazil, collected and presented by Mr. Lorquin; California

Snow Plant, (_Sarcodes sanguinea_) by Dr. Kellogg.

Mr. Stearns presented the following papers:

Shells collected at Santa Barbara by W. Newcomb, M.D., in January, 1867.

BY ROBERT E. C. STEARNS.

1. Pholadidea penita, Conr.

2. —— ovoidea, Gould.

3. Saxicava pholadis, Linn.

4. Platyodon cancellatum, Conr.

5. Cryptomya Californica, Conr.

6. Schizothærus Nuttalli, Conr.

7. Neæra pectinata, Carp.

8. Clidiophora punctata, Conr.

9. Thracia curta, Conr.

10. Lyonsia Californica, Conr.

11. Mytilimeria Nuttalli, Conr.

12. Solen sicarius, Gould.

13. Solecurtus Californianus, Conr.

14. Machæra patula, Dixon.

15. Sanguinolaria Nuttalli, Conr.

16. Macoma secta, Conr.

17. —— yoldiformis, Carp.

18. —— nasuta, Conr.

19. —— inconspicua, Br. & Sby.

20. Mera modesta, Carp.

21. Tellina Bodegensis, Hds.

22. Cooperella scintillæformis, Carp.

23. Semele decisa, Conr.

24. —— rupium, Sby.

25. Cumingia Californica, Conr.

26. Donax Californicus, Conr.

27. Standella planulata, Conr.

28. Amiantis callosa, Conr.

29. Pachydesma crassatelloides, Conr.

30. Psephis tantilla, Gould.

31. Chione succincta, Val.

32. Tapes staminea, Conr.

33. Saxidomus aratus, Gould.

34. Rupellaria lamellifera, Conr.

35. Petricola carditoides, Conr.

36. Chama exogyra, Conr.

37. Cardium quadragenarium, Conr.

38. Lazaria subquadrata, Carp.

39. Lucina Californica, Conr.

40. Diplodonta orbella, Gould.

41. Kellia Laperousii, Desh.

42. Mytilus Californianus, Conr.

43. Modiola capax, Conr.

44. —— recta, Conr.

45. Adula falcata, Gould.

46. —— stylina, Carp.

47. Pecten latiauritus, Conr.

48. Janira dentata, Sby.

49. Hinnites giganteus, Gray.

50. Ostrea lurida var. rufoides, Gould.

51. —— —— var. expansa, Carp.

52. Bulla nebulosa, Gould.

53. Haminea virescens, Sby.

54. Tornatina cerealis, Gould.

55. Dentalium hexagonum, Sby.

56. Mopalia muscosa, Gould.

57. —— —— ?

58. Acanthopleura scabra, Rve.

59. Ischnochiton Magdalensis, Hds.

60. Nacella insessa, Hds.

61. —— depicta, Hds.

62. —— paleacea, Gould.

63. —— vernalis, Dall (mss.)

64. Acmæa patina, Esch.

65. —— persona, Esch.

66. —— scabra, Nutt, Rve.

67. —— spectrum, Nutt, Rve.

68. Lottia gigantea, Gray.

69. Scurria mitra, Esch.

70. Rowellia radiata, Cooper.

71. Clypidella bimaculata, Dall (mss.)

72. Fissurella volcano, Rve.

73. Glyphis aspera, Esch.

74. Lucapina crenulata, Sby.

75. Haliotis Cracherodii, Leach.

76. Phasianella compta, Gould.

77. —— pulloides, Carp.

78. Pomaulax undosus, Wood.

79. Trochiscus Norrisii, Sby.

80. Chlorostoma funebrale, A. Ad.

81. —— aureotinctum, Fbs.

82. Calliostoma canaliculatum, Mart.

83. —— costatum, Mart.

84. Crepidula lingulata, Gould.

85. —— excavata, Brod.

86. —— navicelloides, Nutt.

87. —— —— var. nummaria, Gould.

88. —— —— var. explanata, Gould.

89. Hipponyx cranioides, Carp.

90. —— tumens, Carp.

91. —— serratus, Carp.

92. Serpulorbis squamigerus, Carp.

93. Turritella Cooperi, Carp.

94. Cerithidea sacrata, Gould.

95. Bittium filosum, Gould.

96. Litorina planaxis, Nutt.

97. —— scutulata, Gould.

98. Lacuna variegata, Carp.

99. —— unifasciata, Carp.

100. —— solidula, Loven.

101. Rissoa acutelirata, Carp.

102. Luponia spadicea, Gray.

103. Trivia Californica, Gray.

104. —— Solandri, Gray.

105. Erato vitellina, Hds.

106. Surcula Carpenteriana, Gabb.

107. Drillia inermis, Hds.

108. —— torosa, Carp.

109. —— mœsta, Carp.

110. Conus Californicus, Hds.

111. Odostomia sp.

112. Chemnitzia torquata, Gould.

113. Scalaria Indianorum, Carp.

114. —— subcoronata, Carp.

115. Cerithiopsis assimilata, C. B. Ad.

116. Lunatia Lewisii, Gould.

117. Ranella Californica, Hds.

118. Mitra maura, Swains.

119. Volvarina varia, Sby.

120. Olivella biplicata, Sby.

121. Nassa fossata, Gould.

122. —— perpinguis, Hds.

123. —— mendica, Gould.

124. —— Cooperi, Fbs.

125. —— tegula, Rve.

126. Amycla carinata, Hds.

127. —— tuberosa, Carp.

128. Amphissa corrugata, Rve.

129. Purpura crispata, Esch.

130. —— triserialis, Blve.

131. —— saxicola, Val.

132. Monoceros engonatum, Conr.

133. Ocinebra interfossa, Carp.

134. Cerastoma Nuttalli, Conr.

135. Muricidea Barbarensis, Gabb.

Dr. Newcomb also visited Santa Cruz Island, and collected the

following species:

1. Waldheimia Grayi, Davidson.

2. Saxicava pholadis, Linn.

3. Semele decisa, Conr.

4. Acmæa scabra, Nutt.

5. Lottia gigantea, Gray.

6. Rowellia radiata, Cooper.

7. Haliotis Cracherodii, Leach.

8. —— corrugata, Gray.

9. Pomaulax undosus, Wood.

10. Trochiscus Norrisii, Sby.

11. Chlorostoma gallina, Fbs.

12. —— funebrale, A. Ad.

13. Chlorostoma aureotinctum, Fbs.

14. Trivia Californica, Gray.

15. Conus Californicus, Hds.

16. Amycla tuberosa, Carp.

17. Monoceros engonatum, Conr.

18. Cerastoma Nuttalli, Conr.

19. Muricidea incisus, Brod.

20. Trophon triangulatus, Carp.

21. Fusus ambustus, Gould.

22. Argonauta Argo, Linn.

23. Helix Ayresiana, Newc.

List of Shells collected at Purissima and Lobitas, California, October,

1866.

BY ROBERT E. C. STEARNS, CURATOR OF CONCHOLOGY, CAL. ACAD. NAT. SCIENCES.

“Purissima” and “Lobitas” are the names of two creeks situated

a few miles south of Spanish Town, in San Mateo County. Near

the points where these streams empty into the ocean are small

beaches and groups of flat rocks left bare at low tide,

limited, however, in extent, as the shore in the neighborhood

is for the most part exceedingly bold and precipitous, the

ocean at ordinary high water beating against the base of the

cliffs.

Dr. Newcomb and myself visited the localities at the period

above mentioned, and collected the following species from among

the drift or upon the rocks: