80 Proceedings of Societies. [ZOE 
April 4, 1892. President Harkness in the chair. 
The President announced the death of Sereno Watson, honorary 
member, and of William A. Aldrich, resident member. 
The Librarian reported 222 additions to the library. 
Dr. Harkness made some remarks concerning his observation on 
the life-history of the Cynips infesting the oaks, and discussed the 
probability of the one attacking the buds being an alternate genera- 
tion of the one forming the woody galls. 
F. Gutzkow spoke on certain improvements in his process for 
parting silver bullion, which he explained to.the Academy about a 
year ago. He stated that it has now been introduced successfully 
into practice, for instance, at the large refining works of the Con- 
solidated Kansas City Smelting Company. Among the novel modi- 
fications of the process the most important is the melting of the. 
crystals of pure sulphate of silver, which are separated in the course 
of the process with five per cent. of charcoalin the crucible. They 
are thereby, at a very low temperature, converted into metallic silver, 
which melts and is poured into bars. Carbonic and sulphurous gases 
are generated and escape without giving any inconvenience: 
Ag: SO, + C = Age + CO. + SO, 
Charles A. Keeler made a few remarks bearing on the question: 
‘‘ What constitutes a species ?’’ 
April 18, 1892. President Harkness in the chair. 
Miss Alice Eastwood and William L. Watts were elected resident 
members. 
The following vial seu as was read: 
SAN Francisco, April 18, 1892. 
_ Secretary, California Academy of Sciences: 
DEAR S1r—The proprietors of Zoe have the honor to offer for 
acceptance of the Academy 50 copies each of volumes I and II of 
that journal, to be distributed to the principal societies of the world 
which are in correspondence with the Academy, in grateful acknowl- 
edgment of favors granted to the California Zoological Club and 
the California Botanical Club. 
Respectfully, 
-H. W. Harkness, 
T. S. BRANDEGEE, 
KATHARINE BRANDEGEE. 
