ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 377 



Mr. Bolander, referring to a previous enumeration of pine species 

 in California, submitted by him, stated that he must now reduce the 

 number of true species by one, leaving the total at only fifteen. 

 He also remarked upon the species of fir in this State, enumerating 

 four only as being strongly marked. He showed the leaves and 

 seeds of two species, and commented upon the mistake of Murray in 

 asserting that there is a fifth species, which he calls Picea magnified, 

 but which is really Picea amabilis. Mr. Bolander thought the 

 tendency to multiply species erroneously was attributable to a de- 

 sire to make a market for seeds, those of new species being always 

 in demand at good prices. 



Special Meeting, November 27th, 1867. 

 President in the Chair. 



This meeting was called for the purpose of hearing from Mr. 

 George Davidson, Assistant U. S. Coast Survey, an account of his 

 recent trip to Alaska, at the head of a party organized by Professor 

 Peirce, Superintendent U. S. Coast Survey, to make a partial scien- 

 tific reconnoissance of that region. Mr. Davidson gave an interest- 

 ing account of the operations of the party, and a synopsis of their 

 observations. These will be found at length in his official report, 

 to be printed by order of Congress. 



At the conclusion of Mr. Davidson's remarks, the Academy 

 passed a vote of thanks to Mr. Davidson and Professor Peirce, 

 Superintendent of the Coast Survey, for the opportunity which had 

 thus been afforded of hearing the results of an expedition of so 

 much interest to the scientific world. 



Dr. Kellogg, who accompanied the party as botanist, added some 

 remarks on the Flora of the northwestern coast of America. 



proc. cal. acad. vol. in. ^ • May, 1868. 



