PBOCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 
279 
and vegetable life. The Secretary announced additions to the library 
in the way of six volumes of the ' Monthly Microscopical Journal and 
Transactions of the Eoyal Microscopical Society.' 
Dr. Harkness donated a sample of the Palmella cruenta (gory 
dew), stating where it could be found in this city at the present time. 
Mr. J. P. Moore donated a bottle of caoutchouc, stating he had 
found it useful for making cells and fixing covers ; a sample of wild 
cotton, from Barbacoas ; a sample of Liber used by the natives of the 
above locality for blankets, and two slides mounted by him with fibre 
of the same. 
Mr. Scupham presented samples of rock composed of tertiary 
shells, from near Folsom, California ; rock composed of fresh-water 
shells and protozoans. Cache Valley, Utah : silicified oakwood, Eose- 
ville Junction; Arenaceous slate, showing crystals of peroxide of 
manganese, Green Eiver, Wyoming ; and specimens of the Tillansia 
usneoides with seed pods, from Galveston, Texas. 
President Hanks' Bejport. 
San Francisco, Feb. 4, 1875. — To-night ends the third year since 
the organization of the San Francisco Microscopical Society. It is 
with pleasure that I announce to you that it has been a "year of great 
prosperity. None of the members have died, none have been seriously 
sick, an increased interest has been manifested in microscopical 
science, not only by the growth of our Society and by the deep 
interest of our fortnightly meetings, but generally throughout the 
state. A desire has been shown to assist the earnest workers of this 
Society by sending objects for examination, and by calling attention 
to many strange and beautiful things that would otherwise have been 
lost. 
Not only has the Society increased its apparatus, but many 
members have furnished themselves with first-class instruments, with 
which they pursue the fascinating science at their homes, bringing the 
result of their labours to the meetings, there to exchange ideas and to 
comment upon the result of their investigations. 
It has been stated by persons of great experience that few cities 
in the Union were so well provided with good instruments as San 
Francisco. This is owing directly or indirectly to the influence of 
our Society. 
Although I have said that we have greatly advanced in the study 
of microscopy, yet, in efiect, we have only just begun. If we have 
much, very much to learn yet, we may feel that we have laid a good 
foundation upon which to erect the superstructure. We are particu- 
larly fortunate in one respect — -we are in a new and Undeveloped 
country. Unlike Europe, every inch of which (figuratively speaking) 
has been placed in th^ field of the microscope, we have vast unex- 
plored regions within our grasp, and the scientific world is looking to 
us for results. 
It has been the custom of our Society to give entertainments to 
our friends from time to time. During the year three of these have 
been given. One large reception was held on May 4, at Mercantile 
