8o SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OFSCIENCES 



GEOLOGICAL SECTION. 



Professor Theodore B. Comstock, the president, presided in the ab- 

 sence of G-. W. Parsons, the chairman of the Section. Gr. Major Taber, 

 secretary of the Section, read a paper on "Mineral Formation and 

 Crrstalization" as follows: 



Mineral crystals vary from those microscopic size to several feet 

 in length. They are either opaque or transparent, and assume almost 

 every conceivable angle, and I note that in all the mineral kingdom 

 there are over 700 different classifications. 



Deposits of beryl, apatelite, copper and many other minerals have 

 been found weighing several tons. The same mineral in different locali- 

 ties exhibits an endless variety of forms, yet their angles are always 

 the same under like conditions. 



It has been discovered that all crystals found in nature may be re- 

 ferred to sis systems, based on certain relations to their axis. 



The same su<bstance often has wide variations. In carbon, for in- 

 stance, the diamond is pure carbon; transparent, usually colorless, brittle 

 and extremely hard. Graphite, being principally carbon, is opaque, 

 black, tough and soft, and charcoal is very similar. 



The law of crystalization should produce perfectly similar forms of 

 the same substance, but disturbing elements and influences produce 

 many radical changes. 



Following the paper, Mr. Taber exhibited several specimens of min- 

 erals and petrified woods, after which Professor Comstock dwelt at length 

 on the formation and crystalization of various minerals. A general 

 discussion followed. 



BIOLOGICAL SECTION. 



Los Angeles, C'al., Chamber of Commerce. April 11th. 1904. 



The meeting of the Biological Section was called to order by the 

 Chairman. 



The m.inutes of the last meeting were read and approved. 



Mr. Wm. H. Knight made an interesting report on th-e so-called 

 Weather Plant, Abrus preeatorius. He also presented a number of the 

 seeds to the Section. 



Mr. Ulrey reported on some work which had been done tending to 

 show that the germination of seeds was brought about by definite bac- 

 teria. 



Mr, Whiting commented somewhat caustically on the action of a 

 surgeon in the city who was reported to have operated on a woman for 

 a frog which she claimed had -been in her stomach for a year or more. 



The lecture of the evening was delivered by Prof. B. M. Davis, 

 his subject being the structure of the Larval Balanoglossus. The lec- 

 ture was illustrated by a number of carefully prepared drawings. One 

 interesting feature emphasized by the lecturer was that it is in this form 

 of life that muscles are first found, springing from the central axis. In 

 this and many other representations, the Balanaglossus appears to stand 

 at the base of the vertebrate series of life. 



The lecture was discussed at some length by Dr. Houghton. Mr. 

 Knight announced that at the next meeting of the Astronomical Sec- 

 tion, Professor Dozier would demonstrate his method of trisecting an 

 angle 



About thirty members and visitors were present. The Section ad- 

 journed to meet again on the second Monday in May. 



C. A. WHITIXCt, Secretary 



