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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
Gy) 
Biological Section 
The Biological Section of the Academy has started on what »romises 
to be an unusually successful year. The meetings up to the present 
have been held at the Pacific College of Osteopathy on the corner of 
Daly and Mission streets, and it is probable that the meetings will 
be held at this place during the entire year. The attendance has been 
good, averaging from twenty to sixty each evening. The October meot- 
ing was addressed by Dr. C. A. Whiting; his lecture being on ‘‘The 
Smithsonian -Institute,’’ at which place he spent considerable time 
during the last summer. Professor Miller, of the State Normal School, 
addressed the November meeting on the subject of ‘‘ Desert Plants.’’ 
His lecture was especially intersting and instructive. The December 
meeting was addressed by Professor Gilbert, of the Los Angeles High 
School; his subject being ‘‘Some Pacific Coast Fossils.’’? Prof. Gilbert’s 
lecture deserves much more than passing comment not only because 
of the interest such a subject excites, but also because of the pains 
taken by the lecturer to illustrate his subject, with this end in view 
he brought with him a large number of specimens, the aggregate 
weight of which must have been much over one hundred pounds. 
It is believed that the meetings for the rest of the year will be 
quite as valuable from an educational standpoint as those which have 
already been held. CARL H. PHINNEY, Secretary. 
Geological Section 
During the months of October, November and December, 
1907, the geological sectiono of the Academy met once each 
month and these meetings were each much enjoyed by all 
present, and we believe were not without profit to each of us. 
On the evening of October 21, this section met at the resi- 
dence of Wm. H. Knight, when a number of gentlemen were 
present most of them mining engineers. On this occasion W. 
H. Storms described the geology of the noted Homestake mine 
in South Dakota, together with something of its history and 
development. Following this there was general discussion of 
the Homestake and ore deposits in general, in which all pres- 
ent. took part. 
On the evening of November 18, the geological section again 
met on this occasion at the residence of Mr. 8. J. Keese. The 
subject for the evening was the Yellow Aster Mine at Rands- 
burg, Kern County, California, which was deseribed by Mr. 
Storms chairman of the section. The Yellow Aster mine is a 
geological anamoly, and its description is not an easy task, 
still all present, among whom were a number of ladies seemed 
