86 West American Scientist. 



Prof. Edward S. Holden, the eminent Astronomer, and Presi- 

 dent of the University of CaHfornia, was elected an honorary- 

 member. 



Among the objects exhibited was a handsome mount by Thomas 

 Clarke, Birmingham, England, of the rare and beautiful crustacean 

 Leptodora hyalina. Until a few years ago it had not been found 

 in Great Britain, and its first discovery there created considerable 

 interest. It was found swimming among masses of minute alga 

 (Clathrocystis aeruginosa). Mr. Breckenfeld stated that some 

 three years ago a small pond or reservoir in the Presidio contained 

 the same alga in such prodigious quantities as to give the water 

 the appearance of thick, green paint. Knowing this to be a hab- 

 itat of Leptodora, he had specially searched for that organism, but 

 without success. After some months the immense masses of 

 Clathrocystis disappeared, and, strange to say, had not again been 

 seen up to the present time. 



January 26, 1887. D. W. Parkhurst was elected a resident 

 member. Dr. Ballard reported from the committee on the alleged 

 finding of Bacillus tuberculosis in milk supplied by San Francisco 

 dairies. Drs. Mouser and Ferrer also spoke on the same subject. 

 Mr. Howard exhibited a slide of Entermorpha intestinalis. A 

 sample of diatomaceous earth, from near Santa Monica, was sub- 

 mitted by the State Mining Bureau. 



February 9, 1887. The election of officers resulted as follows: 

 E. J. Wickson, President; Dr. Henry Ferer, Vice-President; A. 

 H. Breckenfeld, Recording Secretary; Dr. C. P. Bates, Corres- 

 ponding Secretary; F. L. Howard, Treasurer. 



The retiring President, Dr. S. M. Mouser, read an address con- 

 cerning the progress of the Society. Mounted slides were pre- 

 sented by Messrs. Howard and Breckenfeld, illustrative of the 

 diatoms of the coast. 



February 23, 1887. Prof Ashburner exhibited a slide contain- 

 ing 213 arranged diatoms, from a specimen of the earth found at 

 Santa Monica by Mrs. A. E. Bush. Mr. Breckenfeld exhibited a 

 slide containing a section of the intestine of a rabbit. The Presi- 

 dent proposed, as a subject for microscopal investigation would 

 be, why popcorn pops, while other kinds do not. 



A. H. Breckenfeld, Rec. Sec. 



Humboldt Society of Natural History. — The Secretary 

 writes us : " The Natural History society that we organized last 

 year seems to have died of inanition. Causes: Members lived 

 too far apart ; President failed to call a meeting, etc., etc. We are 

 taking steps to organize another, consisting of citizens of Eureka 

 and vicinity." Carl C- Marshall. 



California Academy of Sciences. — February 7, 1887. Dr. 

 Behr stated that since the last meeting Dr. Hammond had donated 



