1 882.] Proceedings of Scientific Societies. 349 



— The report of P. W. Norris, superintendent of the Yellow- 

 stone National Park, describes the recent violent eruptions of a 

 geyser which he calls the " Excelsior." During much of the sum- 

 mer of 1 88 1 this geyser sent up to a height of from 100 to 300 

 feet, sufficient water to render the rapid Fire Hole river, nearly 

 100 yards wide, a foaming torrent of steaming hot water, and 

 hurled rocks of from one to one hundred pounds' weight around 

 the edges of the crater. When the geyser is not in motion the 

 column of steam rising from the crater forms a conspicuous land- 

 mark in the park. A new map of the park accompanies the 

 report. 



— At the last meeting of the Quekett Microscopical Club, Mr. 

 F. Enock explained a new method of protecting cells from damage 

 by external pressure upon the cement, his device consisting of a 

 small metallic ring of angular section, which at the same time 

 fitted closely round the cell and overlapped the margin of the 

 cover-glass. It was believed that when placed in position and 

 properly cemented round it would effectually prevent the escape 

 of glycerine. 



— Professor DuBois Raymond, in a recent address before the 

 surgeons of the French army, adopts the dynamic theory of 

 heredity originally proposed by Cope in 1871, and subsequently 

 elaborated* by Haeckel under the name of perigenesis. He does 

 not credit either of these naturalists. 



— The milk of the elephant, according to Dr. Charles Doremus 

 (America), is the richest that he has ever examined, containing 

 less water and more butter and sugar than any other. It has a 

 very agreeable taste and odor. 



— Dr. William A. Hammond has recently read a paper on the 

 mental constitution of Guiteau, in which he takes the ground 

 advocated by the Naturalist in its August, 1881, number. 



— The Naturalist Brazilian Exploring Expedition, under Mr. 

 Herbert Smith, left Rio for the interior, Tan. 1, 1882. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES. 

 California Academy of Sciences. Dec. 5. — At this meet- 

 ing Professor Davidson again presided after an absence of sev- 

 eral months in the field in connection with the work of 

 the U. S. Coast Survey. There was a large attendance. 

 Among the donations to the museum was one from E. F. Gerald 

 of a fine specimen of vanadinite, the first discover, d in the Pacific 

 States or Territories. It was found fortv-five miles above Yuma. 

 Dr. W. F. McAllister presented an aboriginal skull, taken many 

 feet below the surface at Mount Goat, Tombstone District. Cap- 

 tain C. L. Hooper of the Convin donated two specimens of Emperor 



