22 CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES [Proc. 4th Ser. 



itself for the benefit of his fellow man, he seemed to 

 have risen above the frailties of human nature and stood 

 forth as a model for respect and admiration." 



The Academy of Sciences is indebted to Mr. Hittell for an- 

 other important benefit, which grew out of a voluntary service 

 he was faithfully performing. It has been noted that at the 

 time of the great fire of 1906 his History of the Academy had 

 been completed to the year 1903. Although the greater part 

 of the books of record of the Academy were saved on that 

 historical morning, those of the Board of Trustees were de- 

 stroyed. These contained, among other things, the accounts 

 of expenditure for the construction of the building on Market 

 street. The only available if not the sole evidence of these 

 accounts was the copies which had been taken for the object 

 of writing the Academy history; and they were used for this 

 purpose in the negotiations and settlements with the insurance 

 companies, thus proving of great value. 



It was on September 5, 1887, that Mr. Hittell became a 

 member of the California Academy of Sciences. On Janu- 

 ary 5, 1903, he became a life member. He identified himself 

 with its interests and seldom missed either a regular or 

 special meeting when it was in his power to attend. In ad- 

 dition to the regularity of his attendance, he wrote and pre- 

 sented the following papers: 



Siitro's New Water Power. 4 pp. Read October 15, 1888. 



Memorial on the Death of Professor John LeConte. 4 pp. 

 Read June 1, 1891. 



The Acorn and the Oak. 19 pp. Read February 4, 1889. 



Change of Level in the San Francisco Peninsula. 5 pp. 

 Read December 16, 1888. 



Oysters in San Francisco Bay. 15 pp. Read November 6, 

 1893. 



Remarks on the Alameda Shell-Mound and Indian Medi- 

 cine Tube. 14 pp. Read October 15, 1894. 



The Last of the Yosemites. 34 pp. Read April 9, 1890. 



Pioneers in Death Valley. 25 pp. Read November 3, 

 1902. 



Historic Sketch of the California Academy of Sciences. 

 Read at the Semi-Centennial Anniversary, May 18, 1903. 



