180 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



Professor Davidson said he had also received a letter, assuring 

 him that the "desert ship" was a myth. 



Regular Meeting, July 17th, 1871. 

 President in the Chair. 



Mr, Hodges having left the city, B. P. Avery was elected Re- 

 cording Secretary. 



Donations to the Library : Professor Davidson donated a volume 

 on "Harbors of Alaska," and photographs of the sea lion and seal 

 now at Woodward's Gardens. 



Dr. Blake presented a written communication regarding the sup- 

 posed fish bones which were sent down from Burrard's Inlet by Mr. 

 Deitz, which he said proved on examination not to be fish bones, 

 but sponges, and probably of quite a new form. He said they were 

 interesting from the fact that there were but two other genera which 

 at all resembled them, and which were peculiar to the Pacific. He 

 exhibited transverse sections on glass, which were examined by the 

 members of the Academy. 



Donation to the Cabinet : Dr. Stout presented a specimen of 

 Pityopliis catenifer, called usually the King Snake, some four feet 

 in length. 



Dr. Gibbons said Professor Smith, of Sydney, was present, 

 who was connected as Vice-President with the Royal Society of 

 New South Wales, and who was here for the purpose of inquiring 

 into the rainfall of the Coast. Professor Smith Avas introduced, and 

 made a few remarks tending to establish relations between his Asso- 

 ciation and the California Academy of Science. 



Professor Davidson wished to correct an error in the Proceed- 

 ings for 1870, page 122, line 8 from bottom, so as to read "white" 

 for "gray." 



