25 



The Lyceum of Natural History of New 

 York presented Nos. 1, 2, 3 apd 4 of vol. VI of 

 its Annals. 



Mr. Nevins presented thirty specimens of co- 

 ral, and fifty-six specimens of marine shells, from 

 the Society Islands and vicinity. 



Mr. Charles D. Gibbes, corresponding mem- 

 ber, presented 59 specimens of minerals, fossil 

 woods, bones and shells, also a specimen of 

 Geococcyx affinis, Wag. found in the vicinity of 

 Tulare Lake. The thanks of the Academy were 

 voted for the donation. 



Dr. A. Kellogg presented 250 specimens of 

 California plants, and drawings, with the speci- 

 mens of the Quercus Ransom i, Kellogg, and of 

 the Trichostema lanatum, and read the follow- 

 ing descriptions : 



Quercus Ransomi — Kellogg. — Leaves oblong- 

 obovate, sinuate, wedge form at the base, lobes 

 sub-acute, mucronate, pubescent beneath, on very 

 short petioles ; calyx bowl-form, margin thiu,well 

 defined, scales ovate, long, acute pointed, closely 

 appressed, uppermost minute ; whitish glaucous 

 pubescent ; acorn elliptic-acute, base small ; 

 sessile, in pairs, and solitary. 



This oak was found by Col. L. Ransom, of 

 the U. S. Survey, on the highest mountains near 

 Tejon Pass. The bark and leaves resemble the 

 white, and post oaks (Q. alba, and Q. obtusiloba.) 

 It is also closely allied to Q. Gambelii ; but dif- 

 fers in the more acute and mucronate lobes of the 

 leaf, sessile cup, longer and more pointed acorn, 

 &c. 



He also exhibited specimens, and a drawing of 

 another species, supposed to be new. The name 

 Quercus arcoglandis, Kellogg, was given, or Spur 

 Acorn Oak. Leaves evergreen, coriaceous, 

 ovate-oblong, sub-cordate, slightly repand-tooth- 

 ed mucronate, margins recurved, sub-glabrous be- 

 neath ; fruits sessile or sub-sessile, in pairs, and 

 solitary ; gland ovoid at base, point long, conic 

 sub-acuminate, mucronate ; cup sub-hemispheri- 

 cal, scales glabrous, ovate, obtuse, thin, closely 

 appressed, light chestnut color. Found by Col. 

 Rausoin, near Tejon Pass. This species resem- 

 bles the Q. oxyadenia, Q. Emoryi, Q. agrifolia, 

 Sec, but the leaves are less spiuose than most of 

 our evergreen holly leaf oaks ; the veins beneath 

 are not prominent, the leaves are small, one inch 

 to an inch and a half long, petioles about one- 

 third the length, foliage dull green ; cup flatter, 

 and its general characteristics less robust. 



Dr. K. exhibited a drawing and specimen of 

 Tricliostema lanatum, or the Buff Blue Curls. 

 This species, peculiar to California, is remarkable 

 for its beauty, and worthy of the attention of our 

 florists. It is clothed with a velvet or buff coat, 



of bright, purplish lilac pubescence, and is withal 

 very fragrant. The very long arching and curl- 

 ing filaments like a lady'B curls, have given this 

 order the appropriate common name of Blue 

 Curls. In this species the curls extend out be- 

 yond the flower two inches or more. The public 

 are indebted to Dr. Andrews for its introduction 

 here. 



Dr. Willard, of this city, presented specimens 

 of asphaltum found near Los Angeles. The 

 thanks of the Academy were tendered for the 

 donation. 



January 22, 1855. 

 Col. L. Ransom in the chair. 



Prof. S. F. Baird was elected an Honorary 

 Member of the Academy. 



Mr. Geo. M. Green presented a very beautiful 

 specimen of the Great Egret Heron, Ardea egret- 

 ta, Gmel. shot by him near the Lake House. 

 The bird appears to be quite rare along this 

 coast. The thanks of the Academy were ten- 

 dered to Mr. Green for the donation. 



Mr. Dosh of Shasta City presented specimens 

 of a Grass from the head waters of the Sacra- 

 mento, known there as Native millet ; it was re- 

 ferred to Dr. Kellogg. 



Dr. Wm. 0. Ayres presented the following de- 

 scriptions of fishes, with the specimens from 

 which they were drawn. 



Leiostomiis lineatus, Ayres — Form elongated, 

 compressed. Back gently arched, dorsal surface 

 of the head slopiug, snout rounded. Greatest 

 depth contained a little less than four times in the 

 total length. Length of the head a trifle less 

 thau the depth of the body. 



Mouth received beneath the rounded snout, 

 the tip of the maxillary not quite reaching the 

 plane of the posterior border of the pupil, lower 

 jaw the shorter. Teeth fine, even and crowded in 

 both jaws, with similar stronger ones on the pos- 

 terior portion of the pharyngeals ; none on the 

 palatines or vomer. Upper jaw almost entirely 

 covered by the infra orbitals. 



Scales thin, pectinate, rounded on the exposed 

 portion, truncate anteriorly, covering all parts of 

 the body and head except the throat, branchial 

 membrane and parts of the jaws. 



Eyes nearly circular ; their diameter contained 

 a little more than five times in the length of the 

 head. 



Operculum ending in two concealed, Battened 

 points scarcely spinous. Posterior border of 

 preoperculum minutely denticulate. 



Lateral hue arching very gently for nearly half 

 its length, running the v.uda! 



fin. 

 The first dorsal fin i i from 



