42 West American Scientist, 



posterior margin — a characteristic apparently hitherto undescribed 

 — the Httle animals are quite probably specifically new. 



Dr. Ferrer promised a demonstration, in the near future, with 

 the new Zeiss photomicrographic apparatus recently received, 

 and the meeting adjourned. 



A. H. Breckenfeld, Rec. Secretary. 



California Academy of Sciences. — December 6, i886- 

 Numerous donations to the museum were made, among them a 

 stone axe used by the natives of Alaska in making canoes. Prof. 

 Davidson stated that he failed to observe any shower of meteors, 

 or even a single meteor, on the nights of November 13 and 14; in 

 the constellation of 'Leo,' showers of meteors were said to be 

 due at that time, after a lapse of 33^ years. Prof. S. B. Christy 

 read a paper on ' Rustless Iron,' and its application to architecture 

 and engineering. 



EDITORIAL 



Another new year has arrived, and we wish it may prove a 

 happy one to our readers. The rich table of contents this month 

 renders further remarks under this head unnecessary, except as a 

 matter of business we would state that each subscriber will receive 

 this journal for the present until ordered discontinued and all 

 arrearages are paid. Any subscriber failing to receive numbers 

 which are due, will greatly oblige by promptly reporting to us, 

 when they will be replaced. A cross on the cover or wrapper of 

 the paper will indicate that your subscription is now due. 



NOTES AND NEV/S. 



A citizen's association, for improving and beautifying San 

 Diego, was recently organized in this city. Tree-planting, the 

 improvement of the City park, and similiar undertakings are its 

 principal objects. 



A population of 12,000 is now claimed for San Diego City, and 

 35,000 for the county. 



Mr. James Stevenson, the executive officer of the U. S. Geolog- 

 ical Survey, urges in a recent report the commencement at once 

 of work on the Southern California Geological Survey. The 

 need of systematic geological, topographical and scientific re- 

 searches in this county is seen by every observing person, and 

 the results of such work, properly carried out, would be invalu- 

 able to the future development of this portion of the State. 



