320 Proceedings of Societies. 



Some remarks were made by Walter E. Bryant on the habits of the small skunk 

 of Lower California, which is reported by the inhabitants to be often afflicted with 

 rabies, and to attack men. He also gave an account of a kind of fire-stick {Bac- 

 charis) used by the natives of Lower California to produce fire when other means 

 such as flint and steel and borrowing a brand from a neighbor, are not at hand. 

 A stick half an inch in diameter and eighteen inches long is held perpendicularly 

 between the palms of the hand's and rapidly revolved in a spot slightly hollowed in 

 a piece of dry wood. The exceedingly fine dust which accumulates by the wearing 

 away of the stick soon begins to smoke and in a few minutes ignites. This 

 smoldering little pile is heaped with fine shaving and fanned into a flame. It is a 

 very laborious operation to produce fire in this way, as quick rubbing is necessary 

 for one or two minutes. Almost any one can produce a smoke, but is tired before the 

 spark is made. 



The spontaneous origin of forest fires was discussed by some of the members and 

 cases mentioned. 



President Harkness announced that the annual meeting and election would be 

 held in the new hall of the Academy on January 5, 1891. 



^Proposed amendment to the Constitution of the California Academy of Sciences, 

 submitted in writing at a stated meeting of the Academy Sept. i, 1890. accepted 

 by a majority of the members then present, and referred to the Council who acted 

 upon the matter October 3d and reported it back to the Society. In a full meet- 

 ing of the Academy October 6th, due notice having been given to each member 

 by postal card of the consideration of the proposed amendment of the constitution, 

 it was read clause by clause, and carefully explained by S. W. Holladay, a mem- 

 ber of the Society and of the Board of Trustees, who expressly stated that the 

 amendment made no change in the rights or privileges of any one already a mem- 

 ber, but related only to the qualifications of future applicants. It was adopted 

 by a majority of those present and posted conspicuously in the hall of the 

 Academy until its removal to the new building on Market street, and thereafter 

 in a conspicuous place in its library hall as being the place most frequently 

 visited by members: 



Art. II, Section I. After word "honorary" in second line insert the words 

 '■and associate." Add to Section i "The qualifications for resident or life mem- 

 bership shall be that the applicants are professionally engaged in scientific work or 

 have by their labor contributed to the advancement of some branch of science." 

 [The article so amended reads: Section i. The Academy shall consist of resident, 

 life, honorary and associate members who shall be elected in the manner hereinafter 

 prescribed. The qualifications for resident or life membership shall be that the appli- 

 cants are professionally engaged in scientific work or have by their labor contributed 

 to the advancement of some branch of science ] 



Section 2. First line to read "Each applicant for life, resident or associate," etc. 

 or associatt'Pefc.^' ^ ' '^ ''"'^ " ^''^ ^^^^^^^^^ for life, resident, honorary 



Section 5. First line to read "Any resident member," etc. 



Section 6 Add Honorary and associate members shall have all the riehts and 

 privileges of the Academy except that of voting " ^ 



a'!" lY' c^''!-''" ^' ^''^^ '''' 9'h 'i"<=' for "Trustees]" read " Council." 

 Art VI Section i, page 23, read "Resident and associate members." etc. 

 Section 6, page 24, last line, read " Any resident member " etc 



