1887.] NEW-YORK MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY. 77 



Other parts in contact with it and partly closes the pipe, admit- 

 ting gas to the jets which heat the incubator. The appliance is 

 so delicate that an elevation of one-tenth of a degree in the heat 

 will act upon the gas flame and reduce it. 



President Wickson exhibited a specimen of sonorous sand sent 

 to Professor Hilgard by W. G. Thompson, of Pescadero, and re- 

 ferred to him for examination. Mr. Thompson's letter explained 

 that the sand when driven over or walked on or even disturbed 

 with a stick or the hand, gives out a distinct musical sound. 

 Perhaps the strangest thing about it is that the persons longest 

 in the vicinity of Pescadero, seem not to know of the existence 

 of such a place. It is away from the usual places of resort. 

 The much-talked of "singing beach " of Manchester, Mass., is 

 only one-fifth of a mile long while Mr. Thompson has 

 traced this sand at Pescadero along the beach for over a mile 

 and a half. Mr. Wickson remarked that the subject of sonorous 

 sand had been before the society some years ago in connection 

 with specimens sent from the Sandwich Islands and had been 

 studied by Professor Hanks. The society's cabinet contains a 

 slide of the Sandwich Island sand. The Pescadero material 

 would be studied in the light of these facts, comparisons made, 

 and the subject presented at a subsequent meeting. Specimens 

 of the sand were distributed to those present. 



J. Z. Davis showed a sample of kelp from the southern coast 

 covered with minute shells of mollusca so that the green kelp 

 seemed almost white. The subject was referred to Dr. H. W. 

 Harkness, with the request that he report at a subsequent 

 meeting. 



The society then adjourned. 



Meeting of August 24TH, 1887. 



INTERESTING MEETING. WOOD FROM AN ARTESIAN WELL. 



CURIOSITIES FROM MOUNT SHASTA. 



The regular semi-monthly meeting of the San Francisco Micro- 

 scopical Society, was held last evening at its rooms, 120 Sutter 

 street. President Wickson occupied the chair. 



Dr. Harkness made a preliminary report on the kelp covered 

 by mollusca, which was referred to him at the last meeting. A 

 more complete examination of the material will be made in due 

 'course. 



