ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 129 



Regular Meeting, March 21st, 1864. 

 Dr. Trask in the Chair. 



Eleven members present. 



Messrs. J. G. Kellogg and Jacob Deidesheimer were elected 

 resident members. 



Resolutions were passed in memory of the Rev. T. Starr King, 

 late a member of the Academy, and a copy directed to be for- 

 warded to the family of the deceased. 



Donation to the Library : " Descriptions of New Species of 

 Tropical American Birds," by Geo. N. Lawrence, extracted from 

 the Annals of the New York Lyceum, by the author. 



A discussion was held on the popular error of supposing that 

 thunder and lightning are very rare in California, several members 

 stating from their experience that both are common in the higher 

 and more mountainous portions, at all seasons of the year, though 

 rare in the lower regions. 



Dr. Behr stated that he had used the root of the Aspidium 

 arguiumKaulf., successfully as an antidote for tape-worm since the 

 year 1852, and with better results than attend the use of A. filix- 

 mas of Europe. 



Regular Meeting, April 4th, 1864. 

 President in the Chair. 



Present, ten members. 



Professor Whitney read a paper by Major Williamson, U. S. 

 Engineer, giving the methods of determination and results of 

 measurement by barometer of the depression of " Death Valley " 

 below the level of the sea, made in 1860 by the Cal. and U. S. 

 Boundary Commission. Death Valley was found to be the " sink " 

 of the Armagoza River, which runs near the boundary, east of 

 Owen's Lake. The observations, are sufficient to show that the 

 valley is from one hundred to two hundred feet lower than the 

 level of the sea. 



Proc. Cal. Acad., vol. hi. Q 



v July. 1864. 



