; 



ventrais being half the breadth across the pectoral 

 disk. 



The first dorsal, which is two and three-fourth 

 inches in length, is very nearly coterudnal with the 

 ventrais. Its height is one-half greater than its 

 length. 



The second dorsal is separated from the first by a 

 space equal to the length of the latter fin. It is one 

 and three-fourth inches in length, its height being 

 one-half greater than its length 



The caudal is triangular, with its angles much 

 rounded. Its height aloug the upper border is seven 

 inches, which is twice that of the lower border. 



The skin is everywhere eutirely smooth, provided 

 with an abundant mucous secretion. 



In color, the fish is of a dark grayish brown above, 

 thickly marked with small irregular black .pots or 

 blotches ; beneath white. 



The electrical organs occupy a space on each side, 

 "x tending from near the head about twelve inches 

 backward, with an average breadth of nearly four 

 inches. They are narrow anteriorly, widening to- 

 ward the middle of their length. They present noth- 

 ing in their structure requiring special remark, as 

 they agree so closely with the formation of these or- 

 gans in the well-known Torpedo narke. The num- 

 ber of vertical cells or "piles" in the baitery ot each 

 side ; 5 - about six hundred ; the length of these verti- 

 cal columns is, in the thickest part, rather more 

 than an inch and a half, though they become shorter 

 toward the outer liorder; the number of transverse 

 plates, where the columns are longest, is not less 

 than one hundred and sixty in each, and they will 

 probably average a hundred to a column throughout 

 the or,ran : and as eight of these plates afford al 

 an inch of surface, it is readily seen thai the number 

 of square feet of surface exposed for action in the 

 double organ of the fish, is sufficient to constitute a 

 galvanic battery of no inconsiderable power. The 

 origin and distribution of the nei ves supplying these 

 ins correspond with those points in T. nar/ce ; 

 but the size of the nerves is even greater than in that 

 species. 



T. ealifomica is more nearly allied to T. occiden- 

 tal is, Storer, than to any other species of the genus. 

 But a single specimen of it has yet been seen; this 

 was taken in the Bay of San Francisco. It affords a 

 very interesting addition to the fauna of California. 

 The fishes possessing the remarkable property of giv- 

 ing electric shocks, to persons and animals coming 

 in contact with them, have in all countries where 

 they are found, very naturally attracted much atten- 

 tion, and by the ignorant have often been regarded 

 with superstitious terror. The present is the only 

 species, on out Pacific coast, with which we are yet 

 acquainted, thus endowed. A single species, belong- 

 ing to this sane.' genus, is also found on the Atlantic 

 ' of the United States, of which this is a close 

 Representative. 



Letters were read from C. C. Parry, of Davenport, 

 Iowa, and Prof. K. IS. Andrews, of Marietta, Ohio. 

 acknowledging their election as Corresponding Mem 

 bers ; also from M. RoneLcnormand.of Vire. France 

 soliciting exchanges in Botany. 



Skit. 17. 1855. 

 Col. Ransom, Vice President in the Chair. 



Donation-* to the C'ibinet. 

 From Mr. A. (' Taylor, quills tak'-n from a Cali- 

 fornia Vulture {Cathartes calif orniantu, Shaw) 

 killed in the vicinity of the li«-<I Woods of Contra 

 i. The bird measured 13i lectacross the wings 



CAL. ACAD NAT. SCI. NOV. 1855. 



The thanks of the Academy were voted for the do- 

 nation. 



From Dr. Trask, salts from an Artesian Well in 

 Santa Clara Valley. 



From Mr. E. J. Loomis, of Contra Costa, a speci- 

 men of crystallized Carbonate of Lime, found in the 

 bills northeast of Alameda. 



The thanks of the Academy were voted for these 

 donations. 



Dr. Kellogg presented a drawing ot a species of 

 Castanea. or California Evergreen Chestnut. 



C. SEMPERVJREN8. 



This species of chestnut i.s found pretty generally 

 distributed throughout the State, mostly in elevated 

 localities It has been found (iUOO feet above the 

 level of the sea. It is only a small shrub, similar to 

 the Chinquapin Chestnut, or C.pumila, L., of the 

 South Atlantic States. The fruit is small, with a 

 tough testa, somewhat triangular shaped, usually, 

 if not always, one in each bun-. The flavor of the 

 fruit is pleasant. It is chiefly interesting, however, 

 as an evergreen, and as correcting a current error 

 which has denied to California any species- oi the 

 Chestnut. The specimen was presented by Col. L. 

 Ransom, of the U. S. Survey, from the vicinity of Ma- 

 riposa. 



Dr. K. also exhibited a drawing of a species of 'Oat, 

 so far as we can learn, undescribed. 



QuEKcrs tolvescens — Kellogg. 



Leaves oblong-ovate, acute, mucronate, coarsely 

 mucronate-serrate teeth spread, callous at the points, 

 obtuse or entir° at the base or lower half. 



Glancous and somewhat fuscoid along the veins 

 beneath ; petioles fulvous. 



Gland large, oblong, somewhat swelled, cupsaucer- 

 shaped, velvety fuscous, enclosing about one-fifth of 

 the gland, acorn lh inch long, about an inch in 

 breadth, sessile. 



The general appearance of the tree suggests its 

 close affinity with several species of the Chestnut 

 Oaks. 



Dr. K. also presented a drawing of a species of Ribcs 

 in fruit, from Mariposa, furnished by Col. L. Ransom. 

 This species appears to be the common A'. Menziesii 

 The fruit was unusually large ; it would be interes- 

 ting to obtain specimens also in the flowering state. 



Sept 24, 1855. 



Dr. Randall in the chair. 



Donations to the Cabinet. 



From Mr. E. C. Gibbet), an animal from tin \ icini- 

 ty of the "Great Trees." Calaveras county. It is a 

 species of Marmot, perhaps undescribed, but the 

 specimen is too imperfect for R close comparison. — 

 Better specimens will probably soon reach us. as the 

 species is quite common in thai portion of the State. 

 The miners call it Mammoth .Mole. 



From Col. Ransom, a remarkable specimen of slate 

 from Mariposa county. The strata from which this 

 was taken are nearly vertical, about lour miles in 

 thiokneos. Also, a specimen <>t Selenite, from the 

 Monte Diabblo range, about thirty miles south-east 

 of Pacheco'a Pass. 



Prom Dr. Lanszweert, a Flying Fish, Exocetvs 

 fatetahu, Le Sueur, from the Pacific I loeao, bit. 80' 



