Jackson.] 224 



Dr. J. C. White, in behalf of the Committee appointed to 

 nominate a Cm-ator of Herpetology, proposed the name of 

 Dr. B. G. Wikler, who was duly elected. 



The following gentlemen were elected Resident Members : 

 Mr. W. F. Elston, Cambridge ; Mr. Alexander Moore and 

 Mr. Roofer Wolcott of Boston. 



JSTovemher 1, 1865. 

 The President in the chair. 



Forty-two members present. 



Dr. C. T. Jackson gave an account of a scientific jour- 

 ney through California and Nevada, and exhibited to the 

 Society two portfolios of sketches and i^hotographic views 

 by Vischer, a California artist, comprising admirable draw- 

 ings of the "Big Trees" of Calaveras County {Sequoia 

 gigantea)^ the height and circumference of the most re- 

 markable ones having been measured by Joseph B. Meader 

 and Dr. Jackson ; also reduced photographic views, from 

 larger sketches, of the Nevada scenery, drawn by Vischer, 

 and views of mines and of mining machinery of California 

 and Washoe. 



The voyage from New York to Aspinwall, and railway 

 transit to Panama, and voyage up the Pacific coast of Amer- 

 ica, were briefly described, with remarks on all the interesting 

 observations made at sea and along the coast. 



The distance across the Isthmus to Panama is fifty-nine miles, re- 

 quiring three hours by railroad to make the transit. This route is of 

 great interest to Northern people who have there an opportunity of 

 seeing the luxuriant vegetation of a tropical region. 



On the voyage from Panama to San Francisco the traveller has an 

 opportunity of viewing the lofty ranges of mountaina of Mexico, 

 most of which are volcanic, and some of them active. The first stop- 

 ping place Is Acapulco, in Mexico, Avhere the ship remains a few 

 hours and the passengers are allowed to land. The isothermal 

 lines crossing the Isthmus of Panama turn directly up the coast to the 

 North, so that an equatorial heat reaches entirely to Acapulco, and 



