118 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



close rooms. The idea up to the present time has been that the worms require 

 to be kept at a high temperature and carefully preserved from sudden changes. 

 M. Gintrac finds, on the contrary, that they bear very well a temperature as 

 low as 47° and as high as 104^; that they are not injured by the direct rays of 

 the suo nor by sudden changes in temperature. They were not hurt by rain, 

 nor even by thunder-storms. The disease that has been so prevalent amongst 

 silkworms in Europe, and which has called for so large an importation of foreign 

 eggs, is considered by the author to be caused by the worms being confined in 

 too close rooms. The only shelter he gives them is an open shed, with roof 

 sufficient to keep off the rain. The yield of silk seems very satisfactory, as 38 

 ounces of eggs furnished 372 pounds of cocoons, besides a large yield of eggs. 



Dr. Gibbons read a printed article, written by Mr. Canby, of Wil- 

 mington, Del., on the Dioncea Muscipida, or " Venus Fly Trap." 



Dr. A. Saxe, a member from Santa Clara, made remarks on the 

 sea-currents of our coast, which elicited considerable discussion. 



Regular Meeting, April 4th, 1870. 

 President in the Chair. 



Charles Geddes and Wm. J. Fisher were elected resident mem- 

 bers. 



Donations to the Cabinet : Argentiferous Galena, from fifty miles 

 west of Salt Lake, by G. Bale ; also fossils from the carbonifer- 

 ous formation at White Pine, by the same. Two war clubs and 

 some shells, from the Feejee Islands, by Dr. G. B. Woods, through 

 Dr. Gibbons. Three species of shells, from Oregon and California, 

 by Dr. J. G. Cooper. Two fur robes from Alaska, one of panther 

 skin, with fur seal collar, the other of squirrel skin, by Mrs. 0. C. 

 Pratt. 



Dr. Blake read a translation of a memoir presented to the 

 Academy of Sciences of Paris, on the relation of heat and light. 



Remarks were made on the auroral light observed about midnight 

 of March 28th, and on the earthquake shock of April 2d, at 11.49 



A. M. 



