so Ul HERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 31 



sition and characteristics of the sun and other bodies, and of the search 

 being made for atmospheric conditions more favorable to the photo- 

 graphic investigations now being conducted by the Observatory. 



That being the special official mission of Prof. Hale to this section of 

 the state, it was gratifying to learn that he had found certain features of 

 this atmosphere in the mountainous regions very favorable to good re- 

 sults, expressing the hope that it would lead to the establishment of a 

 branch of the Yerkes Observatory in this vicinity. Prof. Ha'e exhibited 

 a mastery of his subject that rendered his remarks lucid, interesting and 

 instructive. 



After thanks to the speaker, the section adjourned. 



MELVILLE DOZIEE, Secretary. • 



BIOLOGICAL SECTION 



Los Angeles, Gal., January 11th, 1904. 



The meeting was called to order by the chairman, Prof. A. B. Ulrey. 

 The minutes of the last meeting read and approved. 



The nrst lecture of the evening was by Dr. Louisa Burns on the subject 

 of "The Nissi Bodies." The lecture was illustrated by camera lucida, 

 drawings made by the lecturer, and by a number of microscopical slides 

 made by herself. The lecture gave evidence of the most care-taking and 

 accurate preparation. 



The lecture was discussed at considerable length by a number of those 

 who were present. 



Ehrlich's hypothesis of immunity was explained at some length by 

 C. A. Whiting. The subject was discussed at length by a large number 

 of the people present. 



About forty members and visitors were present. On motion the meet- 

 ing adjourned to meet again on the second Monday in February. 



C. A. WHITING, Secretary. 



GEOLOGICAL SECTION. 



Los Angeles, Gal., January 26, 1904. 



The Geological Section met. at the Woman's Club Eooms on t-he evening 

 of the 25th inst. Minutes of previous meeting were read and approved. 

 The secretary read an article on a recent reported discovery by the use of 

 radium, which claimed that by the radium rays the spirit of a dead ani- 

 mal could be seen passing out of the body after death. 



Chairman George W. Parsons then introduced Mr. E. M. Wade, who, 

 with a few remarks, exhibited the action of platinum and hydrogen, show- 

 ing a red heat when united. Dr. Arthur D. Houghton gave a very inter- 

 esting and scientific lecture on tihe line of the radio-activity of metals. 



Mr. Wade then exhibited a tube of radium and a specimen of uranium 

 after the meeting was over. The meeting was well attended. 



G. MAJOR TABER, Secretary. 



NOTES AND NEWS. 



The University of CaMfornia has engaged Prof. Hugo De Vries, of 

 Amsterdam to lecture at the forthcoming session of the Summer School of 

 Forestry. Prof. De Vries has attained much fame by his investigations 

 of plant mutation. He believes that species characters arise suddenly and 

 that they are ordinaril_y stable from tihe moment they arise. 



E-eclamation of drift sands in Cape Colony, C. D. H. Braine (Agr. Jour. 

 Cape Good Hope, 23. (1903).— A description of the extent and character 



