WEST AMEEICAN SCIENTIST. 



41 



A vindication of the authentic- 

 ity of the elephant pipes and in- 

 scribed tablets in the museum of 

 the Davenport (Iowa) Academy 

 of Sciences, from the accusations 

 of the Bureau of Ethnology. By 

 Chas. E. Putnam, President Dav- 

 enport Academy Natural Sciences, 

 Davenport, Iowa, 1885. 



BAJA CALIFORNIA NOTES. 



A new mineral is being mined 

 at San Antonio, a few miles from 

 Todos Santos Bay, to which the 

 name of Antonite has been given. 

 It is used for oramental purposes, 

 in imitating moire antique silk, etc. 



A common species of mineral 

 was found in a most beautiful 

 form at Hansen's ranch, near an 

 elevation of 6,000 feet, on the 22d 

 of April. It was a novelty for a 

 San Diegan to be botanizing in 

 the snow, but beautiful manzanita 

 blossoms, violets, grasses and the 

 rare Astragalus Sonorse fully re- 

 paid the editor for cold fingers. 



Swainson's hawk was for the 

 first time found in the peninsula, 

 near the United States border, in 

 the mountains, on April 23d. 



Most of the shrubs in the vicin- 

 ity of All Saints Bay were 

 more than a month earlier than in 

 the spring of 1882. The manzan- 

 itas, flowering ash, wild lilies and 

 others that were in bloom on the 

 10th of April, 1882, were found in 

 bloom on the same day of the 

 month this year. The same was 

 the case with Parry's wild rose, 

 while Parry's horse chestnut was 

 found in full bloom, but its leaves 

 withered and mostly fallen. 



[Written for the Scientist.] 



Into the crucible of thought, 



Many a bright vision must melt, 

 Before a dainty work is wrought, 



Whose power and beauty can be felt. 

 And patience is the staff whereon, 



Should Science in its progress lean, 

 That it may prove a power upon 



Which all may rest in trust serene. 



SOCIETIES. 



San Francisco Microscopical 

 Society, semi-monthly meeting, 

 April 8, 1885. Six pamphlets and 

 periodicals were contributed to 

 the library. Dr. J. H. Stallard 

 was elected a regular member. 

 The president, Dr. S. M. Mouser, 

 exhibited a slide containing a sec- 

 tion from a malignant tumor. 

 Mr. W. Pazant showed specimens 

 of the eggs and completely devel- 

 oped larvae of Pulexirritans, the 

 common flea. Mr. A. H. Breck- 

 enfold exhibited Vol. I of Coles' 

 "Popular Microscopical Studies," 

 consisting of twelve slides, each 

 accompanied by a chromo litho- 

 graphic plate, and a descriptive 

 pamphlet. 



April 22. Five periodicals were 

 added to the files. Capt. Morti- 

 mer, a corresponding member, sent 

 a rich sample of diatomaceous 

 mud from Cuxhaven, Germany. 

 Samples of recent diatomaceous 

 material from Alaska and other 

 points on the Pacific Coast were 

 received for distribution. Dr. J. 

 M. Selfridge read a paper on 

 "Sarcoma." Mr. C. "W. Banks 

 exhibited a new class microscope. 

 The society decided to hold its 

 annual exhibition the third week 

 in May, Messrs. Bates, Banks and 

 Breckenfeld being appointed a 

 committee for arrangements. 



