ACADEMY OP SCIENCES. 131 



subterranean sources, but that they found their way there from 

 open streams or beds of water through underground channels. 



Prof. Davidson stated that the workmen of the Central Pacific Rail- 

 road Company had bored a well at Oakland Point, and at the depth 

 of 206 feet they passed through a redwood 7 feet in diameter. Both 

 the wood and the bark were fresh and sound. At the depth named, 

 the flow of water was materially influenced by the tide in the bay- 

 At high tide the increased pressure produced an increased flow of 

 water from the well. 



Mr. Hanks stated that borate of lime had been found in consider- 

 able quantities at a point beyond Virginia City — a fact rendered in- 

 teresting on account of the probability that nitrate of soda will be 

 associated with it. 



Regular Meeting, August 3d, 1870. 

 President in Chair. 



Professors Joseph and John LeConte, of the University of Cali- 

 fornia, Messrs. E. Durand, Charles H. Dennison, and James R. 

 Smedberg, were elected resident members. 



Donations to the Cabinet : Some fossil mollusca of the Cretace- 

 ous period, from Arevichi, Mexico, presented by Mr. Hanks. 



Dr. Ellinwood made a motion to invite the American Association 

 to hold their next annual meeting in this city. 



The President said that it would be necessary that the subject 

 come before the Council at their meeting, to be held next day. 



Dr. Stout made some instructive remarks upon the preparation 

 of specimens of natural history by the use of carbolic acid. He 

 exhibited several specimens of fish and birds, some of which had 

 been in his cabinet a year, and gave no evidence of decay. These 

 specimens were not skins, but the entire body of the animal was 

 preserved, only the contents of the abdomen being removed, and 

 the cavity filled with cotton soaked in fluid carbolic acid, reduced 

 with alcohol at 95. He said the largest animals could be so pre- 

 served — even elephants and whales — and he had himself preserved 

 an alligator. He said, also, that upon the death of Captain Pear- 



