The Biological Section of the Academy met on Tuesday eveninsr, 

 November 11, 1913, in the library of the State Normal School, Los 

 Angeles, at 8 o'clock. Dr. C. A. Whiting, chairman, presided, and 

 about sixty persons present. 



Mr. Harry S. Swarth, assistant director of the Museum of History, 

 A.rt and Science in Exposition Park, was the lecturer of the evening 

 and gave an interesting account of the geographical distribution of 

 birds in Southern California particularly, prefacing his remarks with 

 a definition of a bird and something concerning the structure of birds. 

 Questions and discussion following, and Mr. Swarth called attention 

 to a few important recent publications on California birds. 



Dr. Sam.uel Stillman Berry, of the Scripps Institution for_ Bio- 

 logical Research of La Jolla, gave an account of some of his original 

 work with the Pacific Ocean Cephalopoda (devil-fishes, squids, etc.). 

 He exhibited a specimen of a new genus and species which he had 

 recently described Nematolampas regalis; and presented the Academy 

 with a copy of the publication containing it. 



Mr. Swarth exhibited a series of song-sparrows showing the 

 effects of geographical distribution and isolation. Meeting adjourned 



at 9:45. 



F. GRINNELL, Jr., 



Acting Secretary. 



The Biological Section of the Academy met on Tuesday evening, 

 December 9, 1913, at 8 o'clock, at the residence of Mr. J. O. Beebe, 

 342 West 54th street, Los Angeles. There were about twenty-five 

 persons present, and the chairman. Dr. C. A. Whiting, presided. 



Mr. J. O. Beebe exhibited his wonderful collection of fossil 

 Crinoids or Sea-lilies all collected by himself and Mrs. Beebe in the 

 middle-western states; and also wonderfully well prepared models of 

 the whole and parts of various forms. Mr. Beebe first showed a chart 

 of the geologic horizons or formations and the place where the 

 Crinoids first appeared; he then showed a large series of forms of 

 other living things which occurred at the same time — molluscs, lepido 

 dendrons, etc.. which gave a fine idea of the surroundings at that early 

 time in the history of the earth. A series of models were shown to 

 illustrate the evolution of the different forms up towards the modern 

 starfish, with special reference to the changes in the tentacles or 

 feeding organs. A pleasing informality extended throughout the 

 meeting, everyone asking questions. 



The meeting adjourned at 10 o'clock. 



F. GRINNELL. Jr., 



Acting Secretary. 



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