read. The summary of the observations of meteors for the three years, 

 1898, 1900 and 1901, was as follows: 



1898. 1900. 1 90 1. 



November 14 134 49 137 



November 15 172 49 1454 



November 16 22 63 5 



It will be noticed that no observations were reported by Prof. Brackett 

 for the year 1899. '^'^^ reason given was the incessant cloudy weather. 



Comaiienting- upon Prof. Brackett's report, President Knight ex- 

 pressed the opinion that he considered the Leonid observations made at 

 Claremont College to be the best and most systematic work in this field 

 of astronomy made anywhere in the country. 



The Chair called the attention of the meeting to a number of valuable 

 scientific lectures recently given in Philadelphia under the auspices of the 

 Franklin Institute, the Museum of Sciences and Arts of the University 

 of Pennsylvania, and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 

 Some of the subjects dealt with were: "Divisibility of the Atom," "The 

 Period of a Rod Vibrating in a Liquid," "Molecular Physics," "Cuban 

 Archaeology," "Insect Life History," "Excretory Organs," and "Nitric 

 Acid." 



The speaker of the evening was then introduced, Mr. Irvin G. Lewis, 

 who presented an interesting paper on 



"The South Sea Islands." 



The speaker dealt with the topography and geography of the islands 

 and called special attention to the scarcity of harbors and the depth of the 

 ocean between the groups of islands. The atolls and coral formations 

 were described, and the various theories of their formations and growth 

 entered into. Mr. Lewis stated the remarkable fact that the fishes found 

 in the lagoons formed by the atolls were all poisonous, while the same fish 

 found outside of the atolls could be eaten wdth impunity. The various 

 languages of the natives, their history, their huts and former cannibalism 

 (a subject which the speaker said the natives today avoid referring to), 

 the appalling mortality since they have come in contact with Caucasian 

 civilization, were all dealt with in an instructive way. 



A discussion followed, after which the meeting stood adjourned. 



B. R. Baumgardt, Secretary. 



ASTRONOMICAL SECTION. 



The meeting was called to order at the usual hour by Chairman Baum- 

 gardt. 



A letter to the President of the Academy from Director W. W. Camp- 

 bell of the Lick Observatory was read to the Section, expressing Prof. 

 Campbell's appreciation of the invitation extended to him by the President 

 to deliver a lecture before the Academy, and making a conditional promise 

 to do so early in the spring. 



Chairman Eaumgardt then, by aid of a diagram on the blackboard, 

 gave a very interesting and instructive exhibition and explanation of the 

 movements of the planet Venus, now at her greatest eastern elongation, 

 and predicting the dates of her greatest brilliancy, inferior conjunction, 

 and greatest western elongation. 



