Proceedings of Scientific Societies. gj 



cola longinqua, Gould, Anodonta Californiensis, Lea, and a 

 species of Physa and Planorbis were also abundant. 



At Salton, 250 feet below sea level, we were greatly surprised 

 to find numerous valves of Solecurtus Californianus, Conr. , along 

 with the fresh water shells. It is a difficult problem to solve how 

 both marine and fresli water shells, apparently of the same age 

 should be found together at this place. A iew miles away a sin- 

 gle valve of an indeterminable marine shell was also found, and 

 Dr. R. E. C. Stearns reports finding not only Solecurtus, but 

 also a single specimen of Ocinebra Poulsoni at Indio, a station 

 on the Southern Pacific Railway, a few miles west of Salton. It 

 will be necessary to study the topography ot the whole region 

 very carefully before it will be safe to form theories based on 

 these facts. 



In a spring at Dos Palmas the Physa and Amnicola protea, 

 Gould, were both found living in water at about eighty degrees 

 of temperature. Anodonta Californiensis, Lea, has been found 

 living in Arizona, and is reported also from the Mohave River in 

 the Mohave Desert. We may expect to find it therefore in some 

 portion of the Colorado Desert when that region is more fully 

 explored. 



The miocene beds along Carisso Creek furnish marine forms in 

 great abundance, but are of a different age and formation from 

 the fossils obtained at the above locality. C. R. Orcutt. 



Ants in gardens. — Regarding the damage done by ants in 

 gardens and seed beds, the remedy depends to some extent upon 

 the species of ant and its method of work and manner of living. 

 If it is a species which nests in the ground, it can best be attacked 

 with bisulphide of carbon. Pour a table-spoonful into each of 

 several of the orifices, covering the nests with a wet blanket, and 

 aiter ten or fifteen minutes exploding the vapor at the mouths of 

 the holes by means of a long handled torch. 



L. O. Howard^ Acting Entomologist. 

 United States Department of Agriculture' 

 Division of Entomology, 

 Washington, D. C. June 28, 1889. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 



San Francisco Microscopical Society, June 26, 1889. 



President Payzant occupied the chair. Frank E. James, M. D. 

 and Professor H. M. Whelpley of St. Louis were present as visi- 

 tors; also, M. R. Roberts of San Francisco and L. M. King of 

 Santa Rosa. 



The President announced, with regret, the death of F. L. 

 Howard, for many years a member of the society. 



