I04 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



TRANSACTIONS 



I. SESSIONS OF THE ACADEMY. 

 1. Academy Keception, June 6, 1904. 



The Annual Eeception of the Academy was held a.t the residence of 

 Mr. S. J. Keese, 1509 Shaxto street, on Monday, June 6, 1904, at 8 p. m. 



The President of the Academy, Dr. Theo. B. Gomstock, presided and 

 Geo. W. Parsons was chosen Secretary pro tern in the absence of the 

 regular secretary, Mr. Baumgardt. 



The Treasiirer presented ihis final report, which was received and 

 filed after explanation of apparent differences ibetween it and the re- 

 port of the Secretary, due to closing at different daites. 



Eeports of the Sections of Biology, Astronomy and Geology were 

 filed in writing by the respective secretaries after Iseing duly read and 

 received by the Academy. Dr. S. M. Woodbridge, Secretary- of the Sec- 

 tion of Agricultural Ohemigtry, also gave an interestiug verbal report 

 of the year 's work. 



All these Section reports show careful and patient work during the 

 past year and increasing interest along the several lines of study and 

 research, auguring well for the future of the Academy. Mr. Keese, the 

 host, then gave an exhibition of Microscopic Projections of Crystals and 

 other objects showing the beautiful effects of polarization, explanations 

 being made at the same time by Dr. Whiting with physiological speci- 

 mens and Professor Dozier of the principles of polarization, in very 

 clear and interesting talks, they being followed by Dr. (Jomstock and 

 Dr. Houg'hton, who also elucidated clearly and concisely some technical 

 points. 



A vote of thanks was then tendered Mr. Keese for his kindness and 

 trouble in providing entertainment. 



Dr. Theo. B. Comstoek retired from his office as President of the 

 Academy, in a few well chosen words, and Professor Dozier assumed 

 the ofiiee with expressions of congratulation for work done faithfully 

 and ably by the retiring president. Dr. Gomstock responded, thanking 

 all for the earnest and hearty support given him during his two years 

 of administration. Dr. Whiting, in strong terms of praise for wliat Dr. 

 Gomstock had accomplished, proposed resolutions of thanks, to be 

 spread upon the minutes and an engrossed copy sent to retiring presi- 

 dent. Dr. Houghton heartily seconded the motion, which was carried 

 unanimously, the resokitions to be drawn up by the movers thereof and 

 duly presented. 



The meeting then adjourned. 



GEO. W. PARSOXS. Secretary Pro Tern. 



2. Regular Session, September 5, 1904. 



The first general meeting of the Academy for t.he season of 1904- 

 1905 was held at the Ghamber of Commerce hall Monday evening, Sep- 

 tember 5, 1904, President Melville Dozier in the chair. It was ad- 

 dressed by Prof. Wm. H. Pickering, of the Harvard Observatory. He 

 spoke of his recent observations of the moon, made in the clear skies 

 and "good-seeing" atmospihere of (the Lowe Observatory on Echo 

 Mountain. He had detected what he believed to be evidences of 

 activity and possibly of vegetable life on the moon. He noticed that, 

 after the long lunar night of two weeks, small patches of white would 

 turn to a grayish or brownish hue under the powerful rays of the sun 



