Ixxvii « 



Dr. Engelmann showed a specimen of a cactus, Cereus gutne- 

 nosa, from Lower California, the pulp of which is mixed with 

 oil by the natives and used as a calking for vessels. 



October 2, 1882. 



Dr. Engelmann in the chair. Ten members present. 



Mr. B. A. Hill presented the Academy with twenty-three of 

 the earlier numbers of the Transactions, which were received 

 with a vote of thanks. 



Mr. Nipher gave some of the results of the magnetic work dur- 

 ing the past summer. 



Dr. F. L. James was elected to associate membership. 



October 16, 1882. 



Dr. J. M. Leete, Vice President, in the chair. Six members 

 present. 



Mr. Leonhard showed the deposition of metallic iron by Klass- 

 en's electrolyptic method. 



November 6, 1882. 



The President in the chair. Twelve members present. 

 Dr. Engelmann read the following note on the climatology of 

 St. Louis : 



The mean temperature of St. Louis is 55°. 4, and April and October are 

 the months the mean temperature of which approaches nearest to the an- 

 nual mean, April showing a mean of 56°. 2 and October of 56°.! ; but in 

 different years April as well as October vary exceedingly, and are often 

 either colder or warmer than the mean. 



The past month was considered, and justly so, as one of the warmest 

 we have had since observations have been made. Its mean was 6i°.2 ac- 

 cording to my observations, but we have had in 47 years four other years 

 in which the mean reached over 60. Even last year, 1881, October was a 

 little warmer than this year, and in 1839 ^"^ '" ^^5^ the mean temperature 

 rose to between 62 and 63 degrees. The coldest Octobers I have recorded 

 were 47°. j in 1863 and 47°. 5 in 1869. 



