222 PROCEEDINGS OP THE CALIFORNIA 



is a notch passing across the end of the instrument. The other instrument 

 (Fig. 2) is cylindrical, thicker in the middle than at the ends ; the length is 5% 

 inches and the circumference, in the middle, 3^£ inches ; there is a hole through 

 one end of it about an inch from the end, and above the hole is a notch, passing 

 across the end. They are carved quite true. The ground in which they were 

 buried formed part of a rolling hill within a few feet of the summit of the Coast 

 Range of mountains, and at an elevation of about 1730 feet above the sea. They 

 were buried about eight feet from the surface, four feet being alluvial soil and 

 the other four feet being argillaceous shale's, evidently undisturbed. These and 

 four other instruments were found within the space of about two square feet. 

 At the time they were found, the side of the hill was being cut away so as to 

 make a milk house. A great deal of alluvial soil had been previously removed 

 when leveling the ground for the house, but no instruments had been found 

 until the shales were dug into — ^precluding the possibility of their having fallen 

 into a crack in the rock. A microscopical examination of the dirt that was 

 still found adhering in the holes in the instruments, showed that it was the same 

 as that of which the shales were made up. In company with Prof. Whitney, I 

 visited the locality where they were found, and we saw not the slightest doubt 

 but that the instruments were taken out at the place indicated. As to the 

 geological age of the rock in which they were imbedded, it is to a certain 

 extent undetermined ; Prof. Whitney is of the opinion that it is cretaceous, but 

 it certainly cannot be later than the older Pliocene. However, further investi- 

 gations, which will determine this point, will be undertaken on the return of 

 Prof. Whitney from Inyo County. Should the rock prove to be cretaceous, 

 these remains would certainly afford the oldest traces of the existence of some 

 carving animal on the earth. In my recent scientific serials, I find the an- 

 nouncement of the discovery of what is believed to be signs of man, in some 

 bored sharks' teeth, from the Suffolk Crag, the representative of the older Plio- 

 cene in England. 



The death of F. L. A. Pioche, a life member, and benefactor of 

 the Academy, was announced, and on motion, a committee, con- 

 sisting of Dr. J. Fourgeaud, Dr. Henry Gibbons and 0. Liver- 

 more, were appointed to draft appropriate resolutions, expressive of 

 the sentiment of the Academy, and submit the same at a subse- 

 quent meeting. 



Regular Meeting, May 20th, 1872. 



Vice-President in the Chair. 



Nineteen members present. 



Donations to the Museum : Stalactites and stalagmites from the 



