63 



Opercular apparatus destitute of points or process- 

 es. Space immediately anterior to the eye, hyaline, 

 with the nostrils situated above it, of which the ante- 

 rior aperture is the larger. Eye large, its diameter 

 contained about four and a half times in the length 

 of the head. 



The first dorsal fin arisiug at a point slightly in 

 advance of the commencement of the second third ot 

 the entire length, is triangular inform, its length 

 and height equal, being half the length of the head. 

 The height of the last ray is but about one-sixth of 

 that of the third, which is the highest. 



The second dorsal arising a little behind the ter- 

 mination of the first, extends nearly to the caudal, 

 leaving there a free space equal to the diameter of 

 the eye. Its height at about the third or fourth ray 

 equals two-thirds of that of the first dors il ; it de- 

 creases thence posteriorly, the last rays being not 

 quite a third as high. Immediately at its termina- 

 tion is a (inlet, entirely distinct, and yet almost con- 

 nected with the fin. Both the dorsal tins are receiv- 

 ed into a deep groove, which completely conceals 

 them when closed. 



The anal fin arises a little posterior to the origin 

 of the second dorsal, with which fin it is cotcrmin.il, 

 being also similar to it in form and height, and in the 

 presence of a finlet posteriorly It is preceded by 

 two strong spinas, about half equalling the greatest 

 height of the fin. It is received into a groove, scarce- 

 ly so deep as that on the back. 



Pectorals high and pointed ; their height a little 

 less than the leugth of the head, reaching to the plane 

 of the origin o; the second dorsal. 



Ventral* a little posterior to the pectorals, which 

 they nearly half equal in length. 



Ca utlal deeply concave, very strong, rays much 

 branched, accessory rays much developed. 



D. 8— about 40? (mutilated); a 2—1.28 ; p. 1.22 ; 

 v. 1 5; c 6.1.9.8.1.6. 



Color greenish brown above, lighter on the sides, 

 silvery beneath. Irides silvery. A brownish-black 

 bloteh at the superior angle of the operculum. Dor- 

 sals somewhat clouded; other fins nearly colorless. 



We have in the present species the first represen- 

 tative of the Mackerel tribe of fishes yet described 

 as occurring on our coast. It is somewhat singular 

 that of the extensive family of Scombridae, whose 

 species and genera abound in almost every sea, we 

 had hitherto found none along the shores of Califor- 

 nia. We have often heard, it is true, of the capture 

 of Albicores ahd llonitos down the coast, and were 

 assured last summer that the harbor of San Diego 

 was -full of Mackerel." But names of fishes are 

 used in Calif iru.a with so little precision, that no 

 depen lence can bo placed on such evidence He 

 who should infer that anything n sembliiig Pike or 

 Perch was taken in the Sacramento River or the San 

 Joaquin, would (so far as we now know) be much 

 dece ved; yel fishes bearing those names are constant- 

 ly brought from these r.vcrs to our markets, and 

 sold in abundance. The sp 'cimen herewith presen- 

 ted possesses', therefore, more than its own share of 

 in erest. 



C. si/iiiiiii iriciis is quite distinct from all the pr - 

 vi n-ly known species of the genus. It is more 

 Closdy allied to ('. punctat us. Cuv., than to any 

 other, but is quite readily separated from it by the 

 Curve of irs lateral line, the number of ihe carinated 

 Idles, and the position of the dorsal and anal lin lets, 

 without reference to other characters, W th other 

 forms it, need scarcely be c mpan d. 



C si/,,/ in i, i il* \~t apparently by no means com- 

 mon on our Coast, I nl wdl pi nb i I'ly be Con ml iiiore 



abundant fu tiler Bouth. The specimen described, 

 CAL ACAD NAT. SCI. AUG. 1855. 



the only one yet seen, was taken in the Bay of San 

 Francisco ; it was seventeen inches in length. None 

 of the fishermen were acquainted with the species. 



Sax Francisco, July 9th, 1855. 



Dr. L. Lanszweert in the Chair. 



Mr. James O'Meara, of Calaveras county, was 

 elected a corresponding member. 



Dr. Lanszweert presented a foetus of the Spermo- 

 philus Donglassii, R., commonly called here Ground 

 Squirrel, from Santa Clara ; also two young mice. 



Jolt 10, 1855. 



Dr. L. Lanszweert in the Chair. 



Donations to the Cabinet. 



From Augustiu Ainsa, Spanish State Translator, 

 specimens of Lead and Silver Ore, from Sonora, con- 

 taining thirty per cent, of lead, and silver in the gro 

 portion of $25 to a hundred pounds of ore ; the 

 thanks of the Academy were voted for the donation. 



From Dr. Lanszweert, a Humming Bird, from San- 

 ta Clara, O. RivoL i. new to the Californian Fauna; 

 also several nests of common species of birds. 



A letter was read containing an offer from Colonel 

 Henley, Indian Agent for California, to procure col- 

 lections for the Cabinet of the Academy in various 

 parts of the State. On motion, the thanks of the 

 Academy were tendered to Col. Henley, for his libe- 

 ral offer, rnd the. Corresponding Secretary was re- 

 quested to attend to the measures requisite. 



Dr. Kellogg exhibited a drawing of a new and in- 

 teresting variety of the Peach. This fruit is remar- 

 kable for its fine size, and when we consider that it 

 has been now about two weeks ripe, (the specimen is 

 the second week in our possession, and we therefore 

 speak from our own actual knowledge,) it bids 

 fair, we think, to prove a very valuable acquisition. 

 This new variety has been produced by the combined 

 careful culture and genial climate of the Rev. A H. 

 Myers' nursery, Alameda. A gentleman from Los 

 Angeles informs us they can boast of none so eitrly. 

 If this be so, it may prove immensely valuable. We 

 are not authorized to designate it by any name, but 

 think that Myers' Rareripe would be sufficiently dis- 

 tinctive and app: opriate. 



Dr. Kellogg also exhibited a complete drawiug of 

 a species of wi.d Black Mountain Currant, together 

 with specimens of the bush and ripe fruit. The fruit 

 is very sweet and pulpy, and by a little Culture 

 would undoubtedly improve in every respect. The 

 frnit is large, black, Covered with a dense bloom, and 

 the bush appears to yield bountifully, 



Kiuks N*avai>ak\ms. — Kellogg. 



Stem and brandies glabrous, the membranous 

 purple bark ol the older branches Bakes and warpa 

 off like the nine-bark bush, or b'pirea opulyfolia. — 



Leaves about as lung M ' he racemes. Col dale. '■', to 5 



p iii 1 1 doubly serrate, pubescent above and below ; 



ilieith'l' glandular nor vised. ) petioles pulioi ulelit 



aid sparsely glandular, base Bomewliat expanded, 

 e.b.iie : racemes from the same buds as the leaves, 

 minuti iv pole anient and glandular, bracts red, like 



