26 SANTA BARBAKA SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



in the process of cleaning. Under the malar hone of the left 

 side a snail shell is lodged, and partly concealed by the 

 breccia of bone wedged in the cavity. This shell is Helix 

 mormonum — according to Dr. Cooper, a species now living in 

 the region where the skull was obtained. Although not com- 

 petent to express a decided opinion on the subject of the eth- 

 nological relations of this skull, I should suppose that it 

 belonged to the type of the Indians now inhabiting the foot- 

 hills of the Sierra. It is certain that the facial angle is not 

 one indicating a low order of intellect. The skull, however, 

 'seems to have been very thick and solid. It will be placed in 

 the hands of competent craniologists for examination and 

 description, as soon as reliable information has been obtained 

 with regard to its occurrence, or whenever all has been ascer- 

 tained that can be." 



The late J. W. Foster, LL. D., in his Prehistoric Races of 

 the U. S. of America, says in relation to this skull: "Another 

 discovery of a human cranium in this State, deep down in the 

 Gold-drift, and covered with five successive overflows of lava, 

 was looked upon with incredulity by what might be called 

 the intelligent portion of the community, and the reputed 

 finder was accused of an attempt to perpetrate a scientific 

 fraud." Now in regard to what Dr. Foster calls the intel- 

 ligent portion of the community, the writer was at that time, 

 or shortly after said discovery, one of the number employed 

 on the State Geological Survey of California, also traveling 

 through the mining portion of the State on business of his 

 own, was in a position which enabled him to know how much 

 said "intelligent portion" of the community knew about such 

 matters and how much they appreciated, scientific knowledge. 

 During the time, they were doing their best to prevent the 

 continuance of the scientific survey of the State. It is well 

 known to many of those who resided in California at that 

 time, that a great portion of the mining fraternity were 

 opposed to the survey, and that feeling will in a measure 

 account for the vindictiveness with which they promulgated 

 anything which might cast a slur upon Prof. Whitney, and 



