n 



Col. L. Ransom presented a variety of 

 plants from the Tejon Pass, which were re- 

 ferred to Dr. Kellogg; with them were fine 

 specimens of Olives from the Mission of San 

 Fernando. 



San Francisco, Dec. 4, 1854. 



Dr. H. Gibbons in the chair. 



Mr. P. Edwards Connor was elected a cor- 

 responding member. 



A fragment, about eight inches in length, 

 of a tusk found at the depth of twenty feet 

 on Cape Horn Bar, was presented by Dr. 

 Gibbons on behalf of Mr. T. Mitchell. The 

 length of the tusk before being broken was 

 five feet, ten inches; its circumference at the 

 base twenty four and a half inches; it was 

 hollow for three feet. The specimen was 

 from the same source as that reported at the 

 last meeting. 



Dr. Gibbons exhibited a number of Oak- 

 galls of remarkably regular sphericity and 

 uniform size, about one third of an inch in 

 diameter. They occurred under a few of 

 the trees in Oakland, nearly covering the 

 ground. 



Dr. H. Behr presented the following de- 

 scription of a parasitic shrub, found in the 

 vicinity of San Francisco. 



Cuscuta Ceanothi, mihi, Capitula quinque- 

 flora, sesilia. Bracteae involucrum penla- 

 phyllum constituentes. Calycis partitioues 

 quinque late ovatae, obtusae, corolla dimidia 

 breviores. Corollae urceolatae limbus quin- 

 quefidus, patens, fundus squamis quinque 

 ciliutis instructus. Stamina usque ad antfie- 

 ras coronae adnata. Stylus bipartitus, stig- 

 mata capitata. 



Planta tota, excepta, corolla, Candida, co- 

 lore violaceo sulfusa, semel adhuc in Ceano- 

 tho a me reperta. 



Dr. Wm. 0. Ayres presented the following 

 descriptions of fishes. 



Osmerus clongatus, Ayres — The species 

 which is sold so abundantly in our markets 

 under the name of "Smelt" is Girard's A- 

 nopsis calif orniensis. It furnishes, how- 

 ever, another instance of the misapplication 

 of common and well known names to ani- 

 mals on this coast, since it belongs to a fam- 

 ily of fishes widely distinct from that in 

 which the smelts are classed. But in com- 



pany with it, and sold under the same name, 

 we find now and then a specimen of the 

 present species. It is, of course, the one to 

 which the name <; Smelt : ' should be applied, 

 as it is a near relative of the Smelt of our 

 North Eastern States (Osmerus viridescens, 

 Le S.) and of the smelt of Europe ( 0. eper- 

 lanus, Art.) while the Atherinopsis has no 

 claim whatever to the name. The latter, 

 however, being much the most abundant, has 

 appropriated the title, and the Osmerus is 

 scarcely distinguished by the fishermen or 

 their patrons; nor is it perhaps important that 

 it should be, as the one species is equally 

 delicate and savory with the other. 



My description is taken from a specimen 

 seven inches in length; a few are found a 

 little larger. It is so closely allied to 0. vi- 

 ridescens that the points of distinction from 

 that species only need be indicated. 



The form is more elongated and compress- 

 ed. The depth of the specimen described 

 is only nine tenths of an inch; this depth re- 

 mains almost precisely the same, from the 

 pectoral fins to some distance beyond the 

 dorsal fin. The head is less than one fifth 

 the total length. 



The lateral line is not above the silvery 

 longitudinal stripe, but runs very nearly 

 through che middle of it. 



The teeth generally are not so long and 

 stout, while the outer palatine row is almost 

 entirely deficient. 



The dorsal fin commences further back, and 

 is not relatively so high. The adipose fin is 

 nearer the caudal. 



In colors the two species agree, even to the 

 dark band at the base of the caudal; the 

 numbers of ihefin rax/s also correspond. 



Mustelus fells, Ayres — This pretty little 

 Shark appears to be not at all uncommon 

 along the coast, and within the entrance of 

 the Bay of San Francisco. It belongs to the 

 division which includes those known as Dog- 

 fish, none of which ever attain any great size. 

 My description is taken from a specimen for- 

 ty nine inches in length. 



Form elongated, quite slender, the great- 

 est depth, anterior to the first dorsal tin, being 

 only six and a fourth inches. Head some- 

 what depressed; muzzle rather blunt. 



Eyes an inch and a half in their longitudi- 

 nal diameter, distant a little more than their 

 own diameter Brora the snout. Behind each 

 eye is a small spiracle. The autcriur bordei 



