Chapter XIV: Part III (4)

Professor Whitney remarked that he was particularly desirous of introducing the subject on this occasion, in order that he might have an opportunity of impressing on Mr. Dall, who is about to leave for the Northern Coast, on the Telegraph Expedition, the importance of making a thorough examination of the detrital formations and surface geology of the country he may traverse.

REGULAR MEETING, JUNE 18TH, 1866.

Mr. Stearns in the Chair.

Thirteen members present.

The following named gentlemen were elected Resident Members: Baron F. von Richthofen, E. B. Dorsey, W. W. Palmer, W. S. Keyes, M. L. Stangroom, J. T. Watkins, Jr., W. G. W. Harford, Louis Falkenau.

Mr. H. G. Bloomer stated that he had identified the plant commonly known as the Pepper Tree, as _Schinus mollis_.

Mr. W. H. Dall called attention to several errors in geography made in a short chapter on geographical distribution of marine forms, forming the conclusion of Agassiz’ “Sea Side Studies in Natural History,” recently published. The errors were in regard to the Coast of California.

Mr. Stearns mentioned that in an hour and a half at Baulines Bay he had collected about fifty species of mollusca.

Dr. Gibbons spoke of the progress of his observations on the connection of the phases of the moon and the weather. His remarks were followed by an animated discussion.

REGULAR MEETING, JULY 2D, 1866.

President in the Chair.

Ten members present, and Dr. Hillebrand, of Honolulu, a visitor.

The following gentlemen were elected Resident Members: Vitus Wackenreuder, Sherman Day, Thomas Price, E. Wertheman.

Donations to the Cabinet:

Ores from the Eureka Mine, Grass Valley, and from the Othello Mine, Pahranagat District, by Mr. Hanks; Steatite from Baulines, by Capt. Morgan; Fungi from timber in the mines of Nevada, by Mr. Ewer.

Donations to the Library:

Congressional Documents, from Hon. John Conness. Transactions of the Royal Society of Victoria, 1861-1864, vol. vi, 8vo., Melbourne, 1865; Fragmenta Phytographiæ Australiæ, Nos. xxxi-xxxiv, 8vo.; Third and Fourth Annual Reports of the Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, 2 8vo. pamphlets, Melbourne, 1864: from F. Müller, M.D.

Dr. Gibbons called attention to the experiments and deductions of Dr. Salisbury, of Ohio, in regard to malarial diseases and their supposed vegetable origin. A discussion followed, in which Drs. Behr and Blake took part.

Dr. Hillebrand gave an account of the Botanical Garden of Batavia. It contains, among other plants, two hundred and sixty-two species of Palms. He also gave an account of the introduction of the Cinchona, of various species, into India and Java.

REGULAR MEETING, July 16th, 1866.

Mr. Stearns in the Chair.

Twelve members present, and Mr. J. S. Hittell and Dr. Macgowan as visitors.

Dr. P. Comrie was elected a Corresponding Member, and Dr. S. Pawlicki a Resident Member.

Donations to the Cabinet:

Land and Marine Shells from the East Indies and the Pacific Islands, by Dr. Eckel.

Mr. Stearns presented the following paper:

List of Shells collected at Baulines Bay, California, June, 1866.

BY ROBT. E. C. STEARNS, CURATOR OF CONCHOLOGY, CAB. ACAD. NAT. SCIENCES.

The comparative scantiness of molluscan life in the immediate
vicinity of San Francisco, and of the coast for many miles in
a southerly direction, led me to believe that an exploration
of the small bays to the north of the Golden Gate would reveal
a very considerable increase both of species and individuals;
accordingly, upon the 14th, 23d, and 24th of last June, I
visited the small inlet known as Baulines Bay, and made an
examination of the sandspit which makes out from its southerly
shore, also the beach inside of and as far north as Duxbury
reef, which latter connects with the coast at a point about a
mile above the entrance to the bay. The unfavorable condition
of the tides prevented an exploration of the reef; as most of
the specimens were obtained from the drift, without doubt the
following list can be largely increased by a more thorough
examination of the locality, especially the reef, at extreme
low water and at different seasons of the year.

All of the specimens were in a condition sufficiently perfect
to make identification easy; a few forms, of which I had some
doubt, were submitted to Dr. J. G. Cooper.

Species marked with a * one specimen; thus † two specimens; of
the remainder from three specimens upwards were collected.

1. Zirphea crispata, Linn.*
2. Pholadidea ovoidea, Gould.
3. Parapholas Californica, Conr.*
4. Saxicava pholadis, Linn.
5. Platyodon cancellatus, Conr.
6. Cryptomya Californica, Conr.
7. Schizothærus Nuttalli, Conr.
8. Clidiophora punctata, Conr.†
9. Solen sicarius, Gould.*
10. Machæra patula, Dixon.
11. Macoma secta, Conr.
12. Macoma var. edulis, Nutt.
13. Macoma nasuta, Conr.
14. Tellina Bodegensis, Hds.
15. Semele rubro-lineata, auct. non Conr.*
16. Tapes staminea, Conr.
17. Tapes var. diversa, Sby.
18. Tapes var. ruderata, Desh.
19. Saxidomus aratus, Gould.
20. Petricola carditoides, Conr.
21. Rupellaria lamellifera, Conr.*
22. Chama exogyra, Conr.*
23. Cardium corbis, Mart.
24. Lazaria sub-quadrata, Carp.
25. Mytilus Californianus, Conr.
26. Mytilus edulis, Linn.
27. Adula stylina, Carp.†
28. Pecten hastatus, Sby.*
29. Hinnites giganteus, Gray.
30. Placunanomia macroschisma,—Desh.†
31. Cryptochiton Stelleri, Midd.
32. Tonicia lineata, Wood.*
33. Mopalia muscosa, Gould.
34. Mopalia vespertina, Gould.*
35. Trachydermon Nuttallii, Carp.
36. Nacella insessa, Hds.
37. Nacella instabilis, Gould.*
38. Nacella ? var. triangularis, Carp.†
39. Acmæa persona, Esch.
40. Acmæa spectrum, Rve.
41. Acmæa pelta, Esch.
42. Acmæa var. asmi, Midd.
43. Acmæa patina, Esch.
44. Acmæa scabra, Rve. (var.)
45. Scurria mitra, Esch.
46. Clypidella (bimaculata, Dall, ms.)*
47. Glyphis aspera, Esch.
48. Glyphis densiclathrata, Rve.
49. Haliotis rufescens, Swains.*
50. Chlorostoma funebrale, A. Ad.
51. Chlorostoma brunneum, Phil.
52. Chlorostoma Pfeifferi, Phil.
53. Calliostoma costatum, Mart.†
54. Phorcus pulligo, Mart.
55. Margarita acuticostata, Carp.*
56. Crepidula adunca, Sby.
57. Hipponyx cranioides, Carp.
58. Cerithidea sacrata, Gould.
59. Bittium filosum, Gould.
60. Bittium armillatum, Carp.*
61. Littorina scutulata, Gould.
62. Lacuna unifasciata, Carp.
63. Lacuna solidula, Lov.
64. Scalaria indianorum, Carp.
65. Opalia borealis, Gould.†
66. Lunatia Lewisii, Gould.*
67. Olivella biplicata, Sby.
68. Olivella intorta, Carp.
69. Nassa fossata, Gould.
70. Nassa mendica, Gould.
71. Nassa Cooperi, Fbs.*
72. Amycla carinata, Hds.
73. Amphissa corrugata, Rve.
74. Purpura crispata, Chem, (smooth var.)
75. Purpura var. ostrina, Gould.
76. Monoceras engonatum, Conr.
77. Ocinebra lurida, Midd.
78. Ocinebra var. aspera, Baird.
79. Ocinebra var. munda, Carp.
80. Ocinebra interfossa, Carp.
81. Cerastoma foliatum, Gmel.
82. Cerastoma Nuttallii. Conr.*
83. (?) Muricidea Californica, Hinds.*
84. Chrysodomus dirus, Rve.

Of No. 8, two odd valves, and of No. 9, a single perfect
specimen on sandspit; 15, an odd valve, one perfect specimen
found by Col. Jewett, who accompanied me; 49, one specimen;
(I am informed by the residents of the town that this species
is abundant at a point about ten miles up the coast); 50 and
51, very common (young specimens frequently and mature shells
sometimes umbilicated); 68, frequent; a well-marked species;
(often confounded with the young shells of 67; the young shells
of 67 are sometimes adorned with zigzag brown markings upon a
light ground, otherwise, no resemblance between them; 68 is in
shape between 67 and O. _bœtica_, of Carpenter); 71 is but an
extreme form of 70, as I am convinced by an examination of not
less than one thousand specimens, received by me from Monterey;
72—if “_gausapata_” and “_Californiana_” belong to “_Amycla_,”
this certainly should be placed with them; 76, particularly
abundant (some 2000 living specimens collected; June 23d, this
species had just commenced depositing their pink-tinted eggs,
a few of which were obtained); 83, the immature shells of this
species closely resemble some specimens of 78.

Professor Whitney exhibited a portion of a human skull recently deposited at the office of the State Geological Survey, by Dr. Thomas Jones, of Murphy’s Camp, Calaveras County. He read the following:

Notice of a Human Skull, recently taken from a Shaft near Angel’s, Calaveras County.

BY J. D. WHITNEY.

This skull was taken from a shaft sunk on a mining claim at
Altaville, near Angel’s, in Calaveras County, by Mr. James
Matson. By him it was given to Mr. Scribner, of Angel’s, and
by Mr. Scribner to Dr. Jones. Mr. Matson states that the skull
was found at a depth of about one hundred and thirty feet, in
a bed of gravel five feet in thickness, above which are four
beds of consolidated volcanic ash, locally known as “lava”;
these volcanic beds are separated from each other by layers of
gravel, and Mr. Matson gives the following as the section of
the various deposits passed through in sinking the shaft, which
is one hundred and fifty-three feet deep, to the bed rock:

1. Black lava 40 feet.
2. Gravel 3 ”
3. Light lava 30 ”
4. Gravel 5 ”
5. Light lava 15 ”
6. Gravel 25 ”
7. Dark brown lava 9 ”
8. Gravel 5 ”
9. Red lava 4 ”
10. Red Gravel 17 ”
---
153 feet.

The skull was found, according to Mr. Matson, in bed number
8, just above the lowest stratum of lava. With the skull were
found fragments of silicified wood, the whole being covered and
partly incrusted with stony matter, so that the fact of its
being a skull was not recognized until after it had passed into
Mr. Scribner’s hands, by whom it was cleaned and presented to
Dr. Jones.

The skull is said by Mr. Matson to have been taken from the
shaft February 25th, 1866, and it came into my hands in the
July following, when I immediately proceeded to the locality;
but found the shaft temporarily abandoned and partly filled
with water, so that it was impossible at that time to make any
farther search in the bed from which the skull was procured.
A careful inquiry into all the circumstances of the alleged
discovery, and an interview with all the persons who had been
in any way connected with it, impressed upon my mind the
conviction that the facts were as stated above, and that there
was every reason to believe that the skull really came from
the position assigned to it by Mr. Matson. Still, as it is
evidently highly desirable that as large an amount of evidence
as possible should be accumulated in regard to a discovery
of so much importance, I made arrangements that I should be
notified whenever the shaft was reopened and the water taken
out, and hope at a future meeting to be able to lay before
the Academy the results of a personal examination of this
interesting locality, and of further excavations in the bed
from which the skull was taken.

Assuming the correctness of Mr. Matson’s statements, this relic
of human antiquity is easily seen to be an object of the
greatest interest to the ethnologist as well as the geologist.
The previous investigations of the Geological Survey have
clearly demonstrated the fact that man was contemporaneous
with the mastodon and elephant, since the works of his hands
have been repeatedly found in such connection with the bones
of these animals that it would be impossible to account for
the facts observed on any other theory. (See Geology of
California, Vol. I, p. 252.) But in the case of the skull now
laid before the Academy, the geological position to which it
must be assigned is, apparently, still lower than that of the
mastodon, since the remains of this animal, as well as the
elephant, which are so abundantly scattered over this State,
are always (so far as our observations yet extend) limited in
their position to the superficial deposits, and have never been
found at any considerable depth below the surface. There is
every reason to believe that these great proboscidians lived at
a very recent date, (geologically speaking) and posterior to
the epoch of the existence of glaciers in the Sierra Nevada,
and also after the close of the period of activity of the now
extinct volcanoes of that great chain. In fact, they belong to
the present epoch. The bed, on the other hand, in which this
skull was found, must have been deposited at a time when the
volcanoes of the Sierra were still in vigorous action, and, as
seems to us highly probable from a careful consideration of the
geological structure of the region, previous to the glacial
epoch of the Sierra, and also previous to the erosion of the
cañons of the present rivers. No pains will be spared, however,
to investigate all the conditions of the occurrence of this
skull, and they will be fully reported on at a future time.

The portions of the skull which are preserved are, the frontal
bone, the nasal bone, the superior maxillary bone of the right
side, the malar bones, a part of the temporal bone of the left
side, with the mastoid process and the zygomatic process,
and the whole of the orbits of both eyes. The base of the
skull is embedded in a mass of bone breccia and small pebbles
of volcanic rock, incrusted with a thin layer of carbonate
of lime, which appears once to have extended over the whole
surface of the skull and of which a considerable portion still
remains, the rest having been removed apparently in the process
of cleaning. Under the malar bone of the left side, a snail
shell is lodged, and partly concealed by the breccia of bone
wedged in the cavity. This shell is the _Helix Mormonum_,
according to Dr. Cooper, a species now living in the region
where the skull was obtained. Although not competent to express
a decided opinion on the subject of the ethnological relations
of this skull, I should suppose that it belonged to the type
of the Indians now inhabiting the foot-hills of the Sierra. It
is certain that the facial angle is not one indicating a low
order of intellect. The skull, however, seems to have been very
thick and solid. It will be placed in the hands of competent
craniologists for examination and description, as soon as
reliable information has been obtained with regard to its
occurrence, or whenever all has been ascertained that can be.

Dr. Macgowan made some remarks on the occurrence of earthquakes on the coast of China. He stated that, since the historic period, no great damage has been done by them.

Dr. Kellogg stated, that on a trip from San Rafael to Baulines Bay he had discovered a species of oak said to be equal to the live-oak for ship building.

REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 6TH, 1866.

President in the chair.

Twenty members present.

Dr. D. J. Macgowan was elected a Corresponding Member.

Dr. Behr presented the following paper:

Enumeration of the Californian species of Lycæna.

BY H. BEHR, M.D.

The genus _Lycæna_ is much more extensively represented in
California than in the Atlantic States, where, with the
exception of a few Arctic species, only the most cosmopolitan
types are represented, such as that of _Argiolus_ and that of
_Amyntas_.

California has about the same number of species as a
corresponding area in the Mediterranean basin. The species are
never identical with gerontogeic forms; but there is scarcely
a single European type that does not find its analogue on
the Pacific coast: a circumstance of which the celebrated
lepidopterologist, Dr. Boisduval, has made good use in naming
many Californian species with reference to the best known
European species of the same type, thus:

_Europe._ _California._

Pheretes, Pheres,
Acis, Antiacis,
Aegon, Antægon,
Icarius, Icarioides.

1. _Lycæna Pardalis_, Behr.

Alæ ♂ ris superne omnes cæruleæ, marginem versus fuscescentes,
limbo albido cinctæ.

Alæ ♀ næ superne omnino fuscæ, marginem versus magis obscuræ,
anticæ linea discoidali instructae.

Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali serieque punctorum
atrorum, halone parum distincto cinctorum signatæ. Posticæ
marginem versus lunulas exhibent pallidiores quam puncta seriei
et lineæ discoidalis.

This species is the only Californian yet known that approaches
the type of the European species _L. Arion_, _L. Euphemus_, _L.
Iolas_, _L. Alcon_, _L. Erebus_. It approaches most nearly to
_L. Alcon_ of Europe, and is intermediate between that and the
European _L. Acis_.

The only habitat of this species yet known to me, is in the
Contra Costa Coast Range, in the vicinity of San Antonio, where
it frequents steep, grassy hill-sides. It is found at the end
of May and beginning of June, and is rather rare.

2. _L. Antiacis_, Boisd.

May. Different localities.

3. _L. Xerxes_, Boisd.

May. Lone Mountain, near San Francisco; rather rare.

There exists no European analogue to this very peculiar type.

4. _L. Piasus_, Boisd.

Very common throughout middle California. It replaces the
Atlantic _L. Pseudargiolus_, and _L. neglecta_, Edw., as well
as the European _L. Argiolus_; and belongs to one of the most
cosmopolitan types of the genus. The caterpillar feeds on the
flowers of the _Pavia_, unlike its European representative,
which feeds on the leaves of _Rhamnus frangula_.

5. _L. Pheres_, Boisd.

May and June. Lone Mountain, near San Francisco. I do not know
of any other locality.

6. _L. Heteronea_, Boisd.

Several localities. May and June. Likes to repose on
_Eriogonum_, and is only to be found where some species of this
genus is abundant. Probably the caterpillar feeds on the flower
of this plant. This species is a very fine analogue of the _L.
Daphnis_ of Europe.

7. _L. Lorquini_, Behr.

Alæ ♂ ris et ♀ næ superne fuscæ, a radice ultra medium pruina
cærulea obtectæ, limbo tessellato. Alæ ♀ næ vitta marginali
pallide fulvescenti instructæ.

Alæ subtus cinereæ, anticæ puncto duplici radicali, linea
discoidali serieque punctorum necnon lunulis marginalibus
instructæ; posticæ macula alba pro linea discoidali signatæ
vittaque alba quæ occupat spatium inter seriem punctorum et
lunulas marginales.

I possess a pair of this _Lycæna_, through the kindness of our
celebrated entomologist, Mr. Lorquin, who caught the species in
the higher Sierra Nevada.

8. _L. Icarioides_, Boisd.

May and June, Marin County.

9. _L. Dædalus_, Behr.

Icarioidi similis sed subtus, quæ puncta in Icarioide sunt
rotundissima, in Dædalo sunt transverse producta, lineaque
discoidalis alarum posticarum, quæ in Icarioide deest et pro
qua macula alba subtriquetra militat, hac in specie linea
transversa distinctissime nigra vindicatur.

The three specimens in my collection, I received through the
kindness of Mr. Chas. Hoffman, of the Geological Survey, who
collected them in the Alpine regions around the head waters of
the Tuolumne River.

10. _L. Sæpiolus_, Boisd.

11. _L. Aehaja_, Behr.

Alæ utriusque sexus supra fuscæ, margine lineaque discoidali
nigriscente, vittaque fulva marginali signatæ ♀ næ magis
obscuræ.

Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali serieque punctorum
nigrorum dilutius cinctorum refracta signatæ. Posticæ punctis
tribus nigris dilutius cinctis radicalibus insuper instructæ.
Lunularum series duplex, interior nigra exterior dilutior,
apicem versus analem puncta nonnulla aurantiaca amplectens.

This species I received also from Mr. Hoffmann, who found it
associated with _L. Dædalus_. It is the Californian analogue
of the European _Agestis_, and produces on one somewhat the
impression of a Polyommatus.

12. _L. Cilia_, Behr.

Alæ ♂ supra argenteo glaucæ, anticæ margine fusca lata, posticæ
angusta instructæ; anticæ linea discoidali posticæ serie
punctorum marginali, cui intus lunulæ submarginales præcedunt
signatæ. Limbus subtessellatus.

Alæ ♀ næ fuscæ æque ac ♂ ris signatæ. Limbus distincte
tessellatus.

Alæ ♂ ris anticæ subtus albidæ linea discoidali, serie
punctorum necnon puncto radicali duplici ornatæ; lunulæ
marginales duplices; posticæ a radice ad seriem punctorum
cinereæ, punctis tribus radicalibus, serieque punctorum
nigrorum lactea cinctorum, maculaque discoidali lactea ornatæ;
a serie punctorum usque ad marginem alæ posticæ lacteæ, serie
lunularum duplici versus angulum analem luteo tincta instructæ.

♀ næ alæ subtus æque signatæ ac ♂ ris sed anticæ æque ad
posticæ dimidiatæ et quæ pars est cinerea in ♂ colore fusco
obtegitur.

This species I also received from the Geological Survey. It was
found at an elevation of 11,000 feet and over, on the snowy
heights surrounding the headwaters of the Tuolumne River. It
belongs to the type of the European _Orbitulus_, which is found
in similar regions of the Alps.

13. _L. Argyrotoxus_, Behr.

Alæ ♂ cinctæ supra lilacinæ fusco marginatæ albo limbatæ, ♂ næ
supra fuscæ, in anticis fascia in posticis lunulis marginalibus
fulvis signatæ.

Alæ ♀ ris subtus albidæ, ♀ næ lacteæ. Linea discoidalis parum
distincta. Series punctorum vix halone cinctorum in anticis
stricta, in posticis refracta. Pars radicalis anticarum
concolor, posticarum nonnullis punctis minimis sed distincte
halone cinctis signata; lunularum series marginalium duplex
sed parum distincta, spatia fulva amplectens, quæ tamen non
semper distingui possunt, in posticis lunulæ exteriores seriei
splendore metallico micantes.

Alæ ♀ næ subtus magis distincte signatæ; spatia fulva
submarginalia nec non splendor metallicus lunularum distinctius
videtur.

This species is found in the Sierra Nevada. It is very similar
to _L. Scudderi_ of the Atlantic coast, and may prove to be
only a local variety of that species, from which it differs
chiefly in the shape and arrangement of the submarginal
markings, which, however, in the Atlantic coast specimens, are
much more distinct than in those from California.

14. _L. Calchas._

♂? Alæ ♀ næ supra fuscæ radicem versus pruina cærulea abductæ,
anticæ linea discoidali, posticæ punctis marginalibus
nigrescentibus, lunulisque submarginalibus fulvis signatæ.

Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali, serieque punctorum
quadrangularium albo marginatorum signatæ. Lunularum series
submarginalis duplex, lunulas fulvas includens, in posticis
intus triangulis albis suffulta. Lunulas marginales in posticis
metallice micant.

Of this species I possess only one specimen; but this differs
so much from the other California Lycænæ, that I consider
myself justified in giving a diagnosis of it, although, as a
rule, descriptions of Lepidoptera belonging to complicated and
difficult groups should not be given without ample material on
which to base them.

This specimen is from Mono Lake, and was collected by the
Geological Survey.

15. _L. Battoides._

Alæ ♂ ris supra azureæ, late nigro marginatæ tessellato
limbatæ, ♀ næ fuscæ, posticæ lunulis nonnullis fulvis
submarginalibus instructæ, omnium limbus tessellatus.

Alæ utriusque sexus subtus albidæ, punctis radicalibus duobus,
in anticis in fasciam transversam valde refractam nigram
confluentibus, linea discoidali, serie punctorum ordinariorum
quadrangularium nigrorum, duplici serie submarginali, necnon
margine nigro instructæ. Alæ posticæ tribus punctis radicalibus
nigris et ad seriem punctorum submarginalium internam fascia
fulva ornatæ, quæ nec seriem punctorum externam neque apicem
anteriorem attingit.

This species was collected at an elevation of eleven thousand
feet, on the head-waters of the San Joaquin River, by the
Geological Survey. It represents the European _L. Battus_.

16. _L. Enoptes_, Boisd.

Hills near the Mission Dolores, and in the San Bruno Hills.
This species is rather rare. It represents the European _L.
Aegon_.

17. _L. Antægon_, Boisd.

The most common species near San Francisco, and found nearly
everywhere through Central California. There are several
generations succeeding each other through the year. A specimen
I received from the head-waters of the San Joaquin River
differs somewhat from this; but as I have only one of this
variety, I will not venture to express a decided opinion
in regard to it. It is, perhaps, an Alpine variety, and
corresponding with a similar one of _L. Sæpiolus_, of which I
received several specimens forming a series of transitions from
the common type.

18.

There is a species approaching the European _L. Agestis_,
and which I received from the head-waters of the San Joaquin
River; but the specimens in my possession are too imperfect to
allow of an accurate description being given.

19. _L. Amyntula_, Boisd.

From the Contra Costa hills, where, in May and June, it
frequents the flowers of the Pavia, on which the caterpillar
probably feeds, as does that of _L. Piasus_.

20. _L. exilis_, Boisd.

This species is rare, and so small that it might easily be
overlooked. It frequents low meadows and salt marshes, where it
loves to repose on the succulent stems of Salicornia, and on
the flowers of Frankenia. At present it seems to be the only
Californian representative of _L. Telicanus_ and _Boeticus_
of Europe; but I think that several species of this type will
be found in Southern California, when that part of the State
has been better examined. I have a specimen of _L. exilis_,
collected by Baron de Terloo, in the Sierra Madre, between
Mazatlan and Durango; and I received, from the same gentleman,
several species of the same type from that locality.

It is this type which is so numerously represented in the
tropical regions of the old world, and also in extra-tropical
Australia. Our depauperated species, _L. exilis_, with its two
European congeners, are, so far as I know, the only ones of
this type which are found in the northern hemisphere beyond the
tropics.

All the other Californian species belong to types of the
temperate zone, and are such as are rarely met with in tropical
countries, or in the southern hemisphere even out of the
tropics. The type of _Amyntula_ is the only one which has a
series of species in tropical Asia; but, as far as I know,
none in tropical America. The type of _Piasus_, also, has some
representatives in the tropics of both continents, one of them
being even identified with a species of Southern Europe.

As to the other types, these species are essentially endemic;
and even among the Arctic species there seems not to be any
amphigeic one. As the males vary very little, and the females
only on their upper side, there is little difficulty in
transcribing and recognizing them. If among our species there
is any one which is identical with an Atlantic one, it is
probably Argyrotoxus, which may be a local modification of _L.
Scudderi_, Edw.

Mr. Stearns read the following paper:

List of Shells collected at Santa Barbara and San Diego by Mr. J. Hepburn, in February-March, 1866.

WITH REMARKS UPON SOME OF THE SPECIES,

BY ROBT. E. C. STEARNS, CURATOR OF CONCHOLOGY, CAL. ACAD. NAT. SCIENCES.

Through the kindness of Mr. Hepburn, well known as an
enthusiastic and intelligent collector, I have been permitted
to examine the collections made by him at the localities
referred to, from which I have compiled the following list.

The remarks in connection with a few of the species are not
wholly based upon the specimens obtained by Mr. Hepburn, but
rather upon specimens received by me from various sources, and
forming a portion of my private collection.

The figures in the left hand column refer to the numbers in Mr.
P. P. Carpenter’s Supplementary Report (1863) to the British
Association.

12. Pholadidea penita; San Diego.
13. Pholadidea ovoidea, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
17. Saxicava pholadis, Linn.; Santa Barbara.
20. Platyodon cancellatus. Conr.; Santa Barbara.
21. Cryptomya Californica, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
22. Schizothærus Nuttallii, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
35. Mytilimeria Nuttallii, Cour.; Santa Barbara.
43. Macoma secta, Conr.; San Diego.
54. Tellina Bodegensis, Hinds.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
59. Semele decisa, Conr.; San Diego.
64. Cumingia Californica, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
65. Donax Californicus, Conr.; San Diego.
74. Amiantis callosa, Conr.; San Diego.
75. Pachydesma crassatelloides, Conr.; San Diego.
77. Psephis Lordi, Baird; San Diego.
81. Chione succincta, Val.; San Diego.
82. Chione excavata, Carp.; San Diego.
84. Chione fluctifragra, Sby.; San Diego.
85. Tapes tenerrima, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
88. Saxidomus aratus, Gld.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
93. Petricola carditoides, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
97. Cardium corbis, Mart.; Santa Barbara.
103. Liocardium elatum, Sby.; San Diego.
110. Lazaria subquadrata, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
112. Lucina Californica, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
118. Diplodonta orbella, Gld.; San Diego.
119. Kellia Laperouseii, Desh.; Santa Barbara.
134. Adula falcata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
?160. Pecten ventricosus, Sby.; San Diego.
162_b_. Pecten latiauratus, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
162. Pecten monotimeris, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
165. Hinnites giganteus, Gray; Santa Barbara.
166_c_. Ostrea var rufoides, Gld.
171. Bulla nebulosa, Gld.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
175. Haminea virescens, Sby.; San Diego.
199. Melampus olivaceus, Carp.; San Diego.
243. Acmæa patina, Esch.; Santa Barbara.
247. Acmæa spectrum, Rve.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
245. Acmæa persona, Esch.; Santa Barbara.
Nacella vernalis, (Dall Ms.); Santa Barbara.
249. Lottia gigantea, Gray; Santa Barbara.
250. Scurria mitra, Esch.; Santa Barbara.
252. Rowellia radiata, Cooper; Santa Barbara.
253. Fissurella volcano, Rve.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
261. Haliotis splendens, Rve.; San Diego.
265. Phasianella compta, Gld.; San Diego.
266. Pomaulax undosus, Wood; Santa Barbara.
269. Leptothyra sanguinea, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
275. Trochiscus Norrissii, Sby.; Santa Barbara.
277. Chlorostoma funebrale, A. Ad.; Santa Barbara.
279. Chlorostoma brunneum, Phil.; Santa Barbara.
281. Chlorostoma aureotinctum, Fbs.; Santa Barbara.
282. Omphalius fuscescens, Phil.; San Diego.
283. Calliostoma canaliculatum, Mart.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
305. Crucibulum spinosum, Sby.; San Diego.
[28]306. Crepidula aculcata, Gmel.; Santa Barbara.
[28]307. —— ?dorsata, Brod.; Santa Barbara.
[28]308. —— excavata, Brod.; Santa Barbara.
[28]311. —— navicelloides, Nutt.; Santa Barbara.
[28]311. —— var. nummaria, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
[28]311. —— var. explanata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
[28]314. Hipponyx cranioides, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
328. Cerithidea sacrata, Gld.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
329. Bittium filosum, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
329_b_. —— var. esuriens, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
333. —— armillatum, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
337. Littorina scutulata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
366. Trivia Californica, Gray; Santa Barbara.
367. —— Solandri, Gray; Santa Barbara.
368. Erato vitellina, Hinds; Santa Barbara.
371. Drillia inermis, Hds.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
374. Drillia torosa, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
388. Conus Californicus, Hds.; Santa Barbara.
409. Scalaria Indianorum, Carp.; San Diego.
424. Cerithiopsis assimilata, C. B. Ad.; Santa Barbara.
436. Ranella Californica, Hds.; Santa Barbara.
=A= Surcula Carpenteriana, Gabb.; Santa Barbara.
437. Mitra maura, Swains; Santa Barbara.
442. Volvarina varia, Sby.; Santa Barbara.
443. Olivella biplicata, Sby.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
444. —— bœtica, Carp.; San Diego.
445. Nassa fossata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
446. —— perpinguis, Hds.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
448. —— mendica, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
449. —— Cooperi, Fbs.; Santa Barbara.
450. —— tegula, Rve.; San Diego.
457. Amycla carinata, Hds.; Santa Barbara.
456. Amphissa corrugata, Rve.; Santa Barbara.
460_d_. Purpura saxicola, Val., var. ostrina, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
Purpura triserialis, Blainv.; Santa Barbara.
461. Monoceras engonatum, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
466. Cerastoma foliatum, Gmel; Santa Barbara.
467. —— Nuttalli, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
473. Muricidea Californica, Hds.; San Diego.
483. Fusus ambustus, Gld.; Santa Barbara.

REMARKS.

269. _Leptothyra sanguinea_, Carp. Common at Monterey; all
shades of color from light red to very dark purple; sometimes
broadly banded with white; another variety is marked with
irregular whitish streaks, causing a resemblance to the young
shells of 282, _Omphalius fuscescens_.

275. _Trochiscus Norrisii_, Sby. The apex whorls of the young
shells have a spiral band tesselated with white and red.

388. _Conus Californicus_, Hds. When young, the shells of this
species are ornamented with yellowish brown markings upon a
light bluish ground.

=A= _Surcula Carpenteriana_, Gabb. The most perfect recent
specimen of this rare species that I have seen (described by
Mr. Gabb in Vol. III, Cal. Acad. Pro. p. 183) was obtained by
Mr. Hepburn; when perfect, one of the finest shells of the
upper Californian province; the specimen referred to is of a
clear light salmon color, traversed spirally by narrow bands
or broad lines of reddish brown, and resembling in its general
coloring that equally fine shell _Narona Cooperi_, Gabb,
described as above, p. 186.

460_d_. _Purpura_ var. _ostrina_, Gld. Deposits its yellowish
eggs on the rocks at Black Point and the Cliff House near San
Francisco, in the latter part of June (1865) and the middle of
July (1866).

75. _Pachydesma crassatelloides_, Conr. Valves frequently
marked with broad radiating bands of light brown.

266. _Pomaulax undosus_, Wood. Young shells approach closely to
the immature form of Pachypoma gibberosum, Chemn.

281. Mr. Carpenter remarks in his supplementary Report to the
B. A., in connection with _Chlorostoma aureotinctum_, Fbs.:
“mouth orange spotted.” I should amend this so as to read
_umbilicus_ stained with orange.

456. _Amphissa corrugata_, Rve. This species assumes nearly
every shade of color and an innumerable variety of markings;
the latter being generally some shade of brown upon a lighter
colored ground.

74. _Amiantis callosa_, Conr. An aberrant form of this species
in my collection suggests, in outline, Dosinia.

88. _Saxidomus aratus_, Gld. A single specimen of a young shell
of this species (Coll. Stearns) is prettily marked with brown
upon the posterior dorsal portion of the valves.

[28] Compared and agree with Smithsonian Inst. types in Cal.
Acad. Collection.

Professor Whitney read the following:

Notice of the Occurrence of a Tungstate of Lime and Copper in Lower California.

BY J. D. WHITNEY.

Among some specimens brought from the vicinity of La Paz,
Lower California, by Mr. Rémond, about three years since, was
one which attracted my attention, as it seemed to contain an
undescribed mineral. I therefore made an analysis of it and
found it to consist of tungstic acid, oxide of copper, and
lime, with a small quantity of water, probably not essential to
its composition. The results of the analysis were as follows:

Tungstic Acid 79.69
Oxide of Copper 6.77
Lime 10.95
Protoxide of Iron .31
Water 1.40
-----
99.12

On examining to ascertain if there was any known mineral having
a composition similar to this, I found that a tungstate of lime
containing copper had been described by Domeyko as occurring
in the copper mines of Llamuco, near Chuapa, in the province
of Coquimbo, in Chili, where it was discovered by M. Gay
(Annales des Mines (4) iii, 15). That mineral, however, only
contained 3.3 per cent. of oxide of copper, while the one of
which the analysis is given above contains 6.77 per cent. of
that substance. M. Domeyko calls the mineral analyzed by him
“Scheelin calcaire cuivreux,” but does not attempt to give a
formula for it, or to decide whether it is entitled to rank as
a distinct species.

The Lower California mineral, of which the analysis is given
above, occurs in a red metamorphic rock, associated with black
tourmaline. It is crystalline-granular in structure, with a
distinct cleavage in one direction, and seems to be homogeneous
throughout. Its hardness is about that of Scheelite; luster,
highly vitreous; streak, very light greenish-gray; color,
pistachio green, passing to olive and leek green. Before the
blowpipe in the glass tube it blackens, and gives off a little
water. On charcoal it blackens instantly, becomes rounded on
the edges, with a little intumescence, and gradually acquires
the appearance of a slag, in which numerous fine points
of metallic copper are seen. With the fluxes it gives the
reactions of tungstic acid and copper. It is easily dissolved
by chlorohydric acid, with separation of tungstic acid.

From the appearance of the mineral, I am inclined to regard it
as having a definite composition, represented by the formula
CuO WO₃+2 (CaO WO₃); this formula would require the following
composition:

Tungstic Acid 78.43
Oxide of Copper 8.95
Lime 12.62
------
100.00

This agrees pretty well with the results of the analysis,
although it is desirable that more specimens should be
examined, and if possible from other localities. I am informed
by Mr. Ashburner that he has noticed this mineral at more than
one mine in Lower California.

At all events, I would suggest for the mineral in question the
name of _Cuproscheelite_, as convenient for designating it, and
as expressing its chemical and mineralogical relations, whether
it be considered as a mineral substance having a distinct
and fixed composition, or only as a variety of Scheelite,
containing a large but uncertain amount of oxide of copper.

Dr. Ayres called attention to the fact that a carcase of a Black fish could be procured at the Potrero, at a small expense, and a subscription was raised for its purchase.

Professor Whitney exhibited a branch of _Sequoia sempervirens_, taken from a small tree growing near San Rafael, of which the leaves are entirely white. The tree presents a very singular appearance, surrounded as it is by other redwoods of the usual color. The fact was elicited that similar blanched redwoods exist in other localities in the Coast Ranges; but no explanation or theory was offered to account for this curious, abnormal blanching of the foliage of a single species—a similar condition of things not having been noticed, so far as known, in any other species than the redwood.

REGULAR MEETING, AUGUST 20TH, 1866.

Dr. Kellogg in the chair.

Ten members present.

Messrs. W. H. Knight and A. Godefroy were elected Resident Members.

Donations to the Library: Bibliography of North American Conchology previous to the year 1860; by W. G. Binney, Parts 1 and 2, 8vo., Washington, 1864. Cretaceous Reptiles of the United States, by J. Leidy, 4to., Washington, 1866. Palæontology of the Upper Missouri; Invertebrates, by F. B. Meek and F. V. Hayden, Part 1, 4to., Washington, 1865. List of the Coleoptera of North America, by J. L. Leconte, M.D.