70 



tion identical with that of No. 2, including the pres- 

 ence of Iodine. 



No. 9_p r om a salt spring. Clear, transparent, 

 inodorous ; predominant taste saltish, slightly bit- 

 ter. Chemical composition as in No. 2, hut with a 

 greater proportion of Lime and Magnesia. Iodine 

 also present. 



No. 13. — "A deposite in the bottom of the little 

 fountain, from which bottles Nos. 3 and 4 were taken 



remarkable for its gelatinous consistence." Odor 



acid, nauseous, from the presence of hydrosulphuric 

 acid. The deposite has the appearance of a gelati- 

 nous, grey mud. Mixed with distilled water, boiled, 

 and filtered, the solution contains in very small 

 quantities — 



Muriate, Carbonate, and Sulphate of Soda ; 

 Carbonate of Magnesia ; 

 Carbonate of Lime. 



The residuum is composed of — 

 1. — The gelatinous substance. This is nothing 

 else than an organic, azotized matter, found accord- 

 ing to Longchamps, in nearly all thermal waters, 

 and known under the names of Baregine, Glairine, 

 Plombierine, Zoogene. It isinsoluble in water; not 

 sensibly soluble in nitric, muriatic or acetic acids ; 

 and very little in caustic potash. 

 2. — Some vegetable detritus. 

 3.— Silica. 



No. 14. — Pebbles taken from the same place. — 

 Their only peculiarity was a deposite of sulphur on 

 some, the others appearing worn through the con- 

 stant motion of the bubbling of the water. 



No. 15. — "Efflorescent salts found in considerable 

 abundance, on the damp mass of disintegrated rock 

 in one of the ravines." An amorphous mass present- 

 ing the appearance of a white efflorescent salt, with 

 small yellow stripes. No perceptible odor. Almost 

 entirely soluble in cold water, giving by reaction — 

 Muriate, Carbonate, and Sulphate of Soda ; 

 Carbonate of Lime ; 



Carbonate, ard Sulphate of Magnesia, and 

 Carbonate of Iron. 

 No traces of Iodine, or of Potash. 



This is the only sample in whieh the presence of 

 Iron has been detected, as we have received none of 

 the water from this ravine, in which Iron would cer- 

 taialy be contained, and which would thus make a 

 valuable addition to these springs. 



If a thorough analysis could be made of the wa- 

 ters of the springs above described, it would perhaps 

 not be impossible to find Iodine there in sufficient 

 quantity to be of commercial value. 



Still again — could conveniences for the accommo- 

 dation of invalids be provided at the springs, many 

 such persons would probably resort to them from 

 this and other States, as the locality is easily reached 

 in two days from San Francisco, by steamer and 

 stage, or by the former alone. 



And lastly, if these waters could be carefully bot- 

 tled at the springs, and thus forwarded, they would 

 bo of better and surer sale than that which is sent 

 here in barrels as the Blue Lick water of Kentucky 

 which in a short time loses its gas, and the most val- 

 uable of its properties . 



SErr. ,3 1S35. 

 Mr. L, W. Sloat in the Chair 

 Mr. W. P.Blake was elected a Corresponding Mem- 



ber, and Mr. S. W. Parker a Resident Member of the 

 Academy. 



From W. B. Farwell, was received a fine specimen 

 of the California Vulture. 



The thanks of the Academy were voted for the do- 

 nation. 



Dr. Lanszweert exhibited the perfect insect and 

 cocoons of the Gal. Silk Worm, together with a draw- 

 ing of the Bombyx quirci, now introduced into 

 France, having been brought from China. It appears 

 that this silk, now at the Exhibition of Industry, in 

 Paris, is reported by M. Guerin Me"neville, of the So- 

 ciety d'Acclimitation, to surpass that of the commor 

 Silk Worm. The differences between the Chinese and 

 the Californian species appear to be slight,. and ours, 

 if properly cultivated, may be of great value. 



Sept. 10, 1S55. 

 Col. L. Ransom in the Chair. 



Donations to the Cabinet. 

 From Dr. Lanszweert, the skull and foot of JDio- 

 medeafusca, from near Cape Horn. 



From Mr. C. D. Gibbes, of Stockton, a very inter- 

 esting series of botanical specimens, from the Merced 

 River. 



From Mr. J. E. Lawrence, samples of the water 

 from the Aguas Calienles, on Warner's Ranch, San 

 Diego Co. 



The thanks of the Academy were voted for the do- 

 nation. 



Dr. Kellogg exhibited a drawing of an Asclepias, 

 believed to be Jl. parvijlova, from Alameda. The 

 bark is fibrous and very tough, and it is one of the 

 plants used by the Indians of California as a materi- 

 al for bowstrings, &c. It affords food for a butterfly 

 common in this vicinity, D. glaucopus. 



Dr. Ayres presented a drawing, with the following 

 description, of a new species of Cramp Fish, illus- 

 trating the structure of the electrical organs by dis- 

 section of the specimen shown. 



Tokpedo caltfoknica. — Ayres. 

 Disk broad and rounded, forming more than half 

 the entire length ; tail tliick, conically tapering. — 

 Length of the specimen described, forty-one inches ; 

 breadth, twenty-eight inches; length of the ditk, 

 twenty-three inches; breadth, at the commencement 

 of the ventrals, ten and a half inches — at the tirmi- 

 nation of-the same fins, three and a half inches. — 

 N.ne of the tins or parts of the body present any- 

 thing angular in their outline; all are very much' 

 rounded, especially the dorsals and pectorals. 



Eyes elliptical, small, their longitudinal diameter 

 being about six-tenths of an inch. They are two and 

 a half inches from the anterior border of the head, 

 and not quite twice that distance from each other. 

 Posterior to the eyes, and a little external to them, 

 are the spiracles, placed obliquely, elliptical, more 

 than an inch in length. 



■Mouth tolerably large, being three incl ■ s in width 

 from one angle to the other. Teeth small, very 

 sharp, arranged in decussating rows, each toot]) 

 placed on a dilated base. The patch of teeth in the 

 upper jaw extends about an inch on each side of the 

 median line, and is only al out three tenths of an 

 inch in breadth; that in the lowerjawiaof even 

 lei ex tint thai) this. 



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