142 



Observations for the last half century, collected by the Coast 

 Survey, as taken along the coast, the larger portion of which are 

 not considered by them reliable, show the average annual variation 

 eastward to have been something over one minute. 



These observations, however meager, go to show disturbance and 

 change. It is not supposed or believed that these amuial changes 

 are anything like regular. 



The occasional earthquakes with which we are visited in this 

 State, notwithstanding they do no material injury other than to 

 frighten the timid, are believed to have more or less effect on the 

 magnetic forces, and to cause sudden changes in some locaUties. 



Mr. W. P. Blake exhibited specimens and read a notice of the 

 " Bailey Silver Ore," so called, which has recently attracted much 

 attention in San Francisco. He had made a qualitative examina- 

 tion, whose results he gave, stating that he was " obliged to conclude 

 that this substance is either a new and undescribed species or an 

 artificial compound ; the latter is most probable. It has the general 

 aspect of an alloy rather than of a mineral." 



September 2, 1861. 

 President in the Chair. 



Dr. Kellogg presented the follo\\ing paper ; 



• The following new and quite anomalous plant, was recently sent 

 us from the head-waters of the Carson River, by Mr. CD. Gibbs, 

 who remarks that " the specimens, Avhich are much the same, were 

 collected on both sides of the summit of the SieiTa Nevada." 



The plant is about four feet in height, mth a stout, simple stem, 

 obtusely quadrangular and nearly smooth, springing from a peren- 

 nial fusiform root. The flowers are pale blue and speckled with 

 darker blue, arranged in a compound panicle, occupying the upper 

 half of the stem ; the cauline leaves in whorls of four, narrowly 

 lanceolate and nerved ; the radical leaves broader. 



As we find no genus answering to this plant, we offer it as 

 Tesseranthium, (Kellogg.) 



(The name significant of the ruling quadniple form of the flower ; 

 as also of the prevalence of the number four or integers of four, in 

 all its parts.) 



Cfeneric character. — Flowers perfect, perianth spreading, with- 



