268 PROCEEDINGS OP THE CALIFORNIA 



In reference to the insect pests, presented by Mr. Woodward, 

 Mr. Davidson remarked that they were creating havoc with the 

 fruit in various parts of the State, and were particularly injurious 

 to pears and apples, which were attacked in all stages of growth. 



Dr. (libhons remarked that the species was not new to him, as 

 the orchards of Alameda County had been infested Avith it for some 

 years past. 



Mr. Dall remarked that the cocoa-nut husk, presented by him, 

 was found in winter on the northern shore of Amaknak Island, 

 Unalashka, an interesting fact, and illustrative of the currents in 

 this region. It was one of a number of substances, originating in 

 the tropics, which go to make up the accumulation of driftwood 

 on the islands. This drift contains, among other things, spruce, 

 ginseng and cedar from the Kadiak and the Alexander Archipelago, 

 white spruce and poplar from the Yukon and Kuskoquim Rivers, 

 and various substances, of tropical origin, from the middle or western 

 Pacific. . Part of this drift is brought by the south-west current 

 which exists on the east side of Bering Sea, trending with the shores; 

 part by the Alaska current, a branch of the great North Pacific 

 easterly stream, which is deflected to the northward and westward 

 when the main stream strikes the North-West Coast of America, 

 somewhere in the region of Dixon's Entrance ; and part by the 

 branch of the Kuro-siwo which pours into Bering Sea, from the 

 south and west, between the Aleutian Islands and Kamchatka. 

 On one occasion, a Sitka spruce was found on Amaknak Island, 

 ■with green leaves still attached to it. The natives say that cocoa- 

 nuts, more or less perfectly preserved, are often found on the shores, 

 and, no doubt, a careful examination of the drift stuff, accumulated 

 in favorable localities, would develope some interesting facts. 



Mr. Davidson corroborated the statements of Mr. Dall, and stated 

 that the natives of the Aleutian Islands had informed him that they 

 always looked for their supply of wood in the drift deposited on the 

 northern shores of their islands. 



Prof. Davidson called the attention of the Academy to the earth- 

 quake Avaves that had recently reached our shores, and were 

 recorded by the tide-gauges at this port, Astoria and San Diego. 

 The first disturbance commenced on the 24th of August, and con- 

 tinued for three days. It was indicated earher at Astoria than at 



