Part 3 — Regular Meeting, August 6th, 1866.
Reading edition
President in the chair.
Twenty members present.
Dr. D. J. Macgowan was elected a Corresponding Member.
Dr. Behr presented the following paper:
Enumeration of the Californian species of Lycæna.
BY H. BEHR, M.D.
The genus Lycæna is much more extensively represented in California than in the Atlantic States, where, with the exception of a few Arctic species, only the most cosmopolitan types are represented, such as that of Argiolus and that of Amyntas.
California has about the same number of species as a corresponding area in the Mediterranean basin. The species are never identical with gerontogeic forms; but there is scarcely a single European type that does not find its analogue on the Pacific coast: a circumstance of which the celebrated lepidopterologist, Dr. Boisduval, has made good use in naming many Californian species with reference to the best known European species of the same type, thus:
Europe. California.
Pheretes, Pheres,
Acis, Antiacis,
Aegon, Antægon,
Icarius, Icarioides.
1. Lycæna Pardalis, Behr.
Alæ ♂ ris superne omnes cæruleæ, marginem versus fuscescentes, limbo albido cinctæ.
Alæ ♀ næ superne omnino fuscæ, marginem versus magis obscuræ, anticæ linea discoidali instructae.
Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali serieque punctorum atrorum, halone parum distincto cinctorum signatæ. Posticæ marginem versus lunulas exhibent pallidiores quam puncta seriei et lineæ discoidalis.
This species is the only Californian yet known that approaches the type of the European species L. Arion, L. Euphemus, L. Iolas, L. Alcon, L. Erebus. It approaches most nearly to L. Alcon of Europe, and is intermediate between that and the European L. Acis.
The only habitat of this species yet known to me, is in the Contra Costa Coast Range, in the vicinity of San Antonio, where it frequents steep, grassy hill-sides. It is found at the end of May and beginning of June, and is rather rare.
2. L. Antiacis, Boisd.
May. Different localities.
3. L. Xerxes, Boisd.
May. Lone Mountain, near San Francisco; rather rare.
There exists no European analogue to this very peculiar type.
4. L. Piasus, Boisd.
Very common throughout middle California. It replaces the Atlantic L. Pseudargiolus, and L. neglecta, Edw., as well as the European L. Argiolus; and belongs to one of the most cosmopolitan types of the genus. The caterpillar feeds on the flowers of the Pavia, unlike its European representative, which feeds on the leaves of Rhamnus frangula.
5. L. Pheres, Boisd.
May and June. Lone Mountain, near San Francisco. I do not know of any other locality.
6. L. Heteronea, Boisd.
Several localities. May and June. Likes to repose on Eriogonum, and is only to be found where some species of this genus is abundant. Probably the caterpillar feeds on the flower of this plant. This species is a very fine analogue of the L. Daphnis of Europe.
7. L. Lorquini, Behr.
Alæ ♂ ris et ♀ næ superne fuscæ, a radice ultra medium pruina cærulea obtectæ, limbo tessellato. Alæ ♀ næ vitta marginali pallide fulvescenti instructæ.
Alæ subtus cinereæ, anticæ puncto duplici radicali, linea discoidali serieque punctorum necnon lunulis marginalibus instructæ; posticæ macula alba pro linea discoidali signatæ vittaque alba quæ occupat spatium inter seriem punctorum et lunulas marginales.
I possess a pair of this Lycæna, through the kindness of our celebrated entomologist, Mr. Lorquin, who caught the species in the higher Sierra Nevada.
8. L. Icarioides, Boisd.
May and June, Marin County.
9. L. Dædalus, Behr.
Icarioidi similis sed subtus, quæ puncta in Icarioide sunt rotundissima, in Dædalo sunt transverse producta, lineaque discoidalis alarum posticarum, quæ in Icarioide deest et pro qua macula alba subtriquetra militat, hac in specie linea transversa distinctissime nigra vindicatur.
The three specimens in my collection, I received through the kindness of Mr. Chas. Hoffman, of the Geological Survey, who collected them in the Alpine regions around the head waters of the Tuolumne River.
10. L. Sæpiolus, Boisd.
11. L. Aehaja, Behr.
Alæ utriusque sexus supra fuscæ, margine lineaque discoidali nigriscente, vittaque fulva marginali signatæ ♀ næ magis obscuræ.
Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali serieque punctorum nigrorum dilutius cinctorum refracta signatæ. Posticæ punctis tribus nigris dilutius cinctis radicalibus insuper instructæ. Lunularum series duplex, interior nigra exterior dilutior, apicem versus analem puncta nonnulla aurantiaca amplectens.
This species I received also from Mr. Hoffmann, who found it associated with L. Dædalus. It is the Californian analogue of the European Agestis, and produces on one somewhat the impression of a Polyommatus.
12. L. Cilia, Behr.
Alæ ♂ supra argenteo glaucæ, anticæ margine fusca lata, posticæ angusta instructæ; anticæ linea discoidali posticæ serie punctorum marginali, cui intus lunulæ submarginales præcedunt signatæ. Limbus subtessellatus.
Alæ ♀ næ fuscæ æque ac ♂ ris signatæ. Limbus distincte tessellatus.
Alæ ♂ ris anticæ subtus albidæ linea discoidali, serie punctorum necnon puncto radicali duplici ornatæ; lunulæ marginales duplices; posticæ a radice ad seriem punctorum cinereæ, punctis tribus radicalibus, serieque punctorum nigrorum lactea cinctorum, maculaque discoidali lactea ornatæ; a serie punctorum usque ad marginem alæ posticæ lacteæ, serie lunularum duplici versus angulum analem luteo tincta instructæ.
♀ næ alæ subtus æque signatæ ac ♂ ris sed anticæ æque ad posticæ dimidiatæ et quæ pars est cinerea in ♂ colore fusco obtegitur.
This species I also received from the Geological Survey. It was found at an elevation of 11,000 feet and over, on the snowy heights surrounding the headwaters of the Tuolumne River. It belongs to the type of the European Orbitulus, which is found in similar regions of the Alps.
13. L. Argyrotoxus, Behr.
Alæ ♂ cinctæ supra lilacinæ fusco marginatæ albo limbatæ, ♂ næ supra fuscæ, in anticis fascia in posticis lunulis marginalibus fulvis signatæ.
Alæ ♀ ris subtus albidæ, ♀ næ lacteæ. Linea discoidalis parum distincta. Series punctorum vix halone cinctorum in anticis stricta, in posticis refracta. Pars radicalis anticarum concolor, posticarum nonnullis punctis minimis sed distincte halone cinctis signata; lunularum series marginalium duplex sed parum distincta, spatia fulva amplectens, quæ tamen non semper distingui possunt, in posticis lunulæ exteriores seriei splendore metallico micantes.
Alæ ♀ næ subtus magis distincte signatæ; spatia fulva submarginalia nec non splendor metallicus lunularum distinctius videtur.
This species is found in the Sierra Nevada. It is very similar to L. Scudderi of the Atlantic coast, and may prove to be only a local variety of that species, from which it differs chiefly in the shape and arrangement of the submarginal markings, which, however, in the Atlantic coast specimens, are much more distinct than in those from California.
14. L. Calchas.
♂? Alæ ♀ næ supra fuscæ radicem versus pruina cærulea abductæ, anticæ linea discoidali, posticæ punctis marginalibus nigrescentibus, lunulisque submarginalibus fulvis signatæ.
Alæ subtus cinereæ, linea discoidali, serieque punctorum quadrangularium albo marginatorum signatæ. Lunularum series submarginalis duplex, lunulas fulvas includens, in posticis intus triangulis albis suffulta. Lunulas marginales in posticis metallice micant.
Of this species I possess only one specimen; but this differs so much from the other California Lycænæ, that I consider myself justified in giving a diagnosis of it, although, as a rule, descriptions of Lepidoptera belonging to complicated and difficult groups should not be given without ample material on which to base them.
This specimen is from Mono Lake, and was collected by the Geological Survey.
15. L. Battoides.
Alæ ♂ ris supra azureæ, late nigro marginatæ tessellato limbatæ, ♀ næ fuscæ, posticæ lunulis nonnullis fulvis submarginalibus instructæ, omnium limbus tessellatus.
Alæ utriusque sexus subtus albidæ, punctis radicalibus duobus, in anticis in fasciam transversam valde refractam nigram confluentibus, linea discoidali, serie punctorum ordinariorum quadrangularium nigrorum, duplici serie submarginali, necnon margine nigro instructæ. Alæ posticæ tribus punctis radicalibus nigris et ad seriem punctorum submarginalium internam fascia fulva ornatæ, quæ nec seriem punctorum externam neque apicem anteriorem attingit.
This species was collected at an elevation of eleven thousand feet, on the head-waters of the San Joaquin River, by the Geological Survey. It represents the European L. Battus.
16. L. Enoptes, Boisd.
Hills near the Mission Dolores, and in the San Bruno Hills. This species is rather rare. It represents the European L. Aegon.
17. L. Antægon, Boisd.
The most common species near San Francisco, and found nearly everywhere through Central California. There are several generations succeeding each other through the year. A specimen I received from the head-waters of the San Joaquin River differs somewhat from this; but as I have only one of this variety, I will not venture to express a decided opinion in regard to it. It is, perhaps, an Alpine variety, and corresponding with a similar one of L. Sæpiolus, of which I received several specimens forming a series of transitions from the common type.
18.
There is a species approaching the European L. Agestis, and which I received from the head-waters of the San Joaquin River; but the specimens in my possession are too imperfect to allow of an accurate description being given.
19. L. Amyntula, Boisd.
From the Contra Costa hills, where, in May and June, it frequents the flowers of the Pavia, on which the caterpillar probably feeds, as does that of L. Piasus.
20. L. exilis, Boisd.
This species is rare, and so small that it might easily be overlooked. It frequents low meadows and salt marshes, where it loves to repose on the succulent stems of Salicornia, and on the flowers of Frankenia. At present it seems to be the only Californian representative of L. Telicanus and Boeticus of Europe; but I think that several species of this type will be found in Southern California, when that part of the State has been better examined. I have a specimen of L. exilis, collected by Baron de Terloo, in the Sierra Madre, between Mazatlan and Durango; and I received, from the same gentleman, several species of the same type from that locality.
It is this type which is so numerously represented in the tropical regions of the old world, and also in extra-tropical Australia. Our depauperated species, L. exilis, with its two European congeners, are, so far as I know, the only ones of this type which are found in the northern hemisphere beyond the tropics.
All the other Californian species belong to types of the temperate zone, and are such as are rarely met with in tropical countries, or in the southern hemisphere even out of the tropics. The type of Amyntula is the only one which has a series of species in tropical Asia; but, as far as I know, none in tropical America. The type of Piasus, also, has some representatives in the tropics of both continents, one of them being even identified with a species of Southern Europe.
As to the other types, these species are essentially endemic; and even among the Arctic species there seems not to be any amphigeic one. As the males vary very little, and the females only on their upper side, there is little difficulty in transcribing and recognizing them. If among our species there is any one which is identical with an Atlantic one, it is probably Argyrotoxus, which may be a local modification of L. Scudderi, Edw.
Mr. Stearns read the following paper:
List of Shells collected at Santa Barbara and San Diego by Mr. J. Hepburn, in February-March, 1866.
WITH REMARKS UPON SOME OF THE SPECIES, BY ROBT. E. C. STEARNS, CURATOR OF CONCHOLOGY, CAL. ACAD. NAT. SCIENCES.
Through the kindness of Mr. Hepburn, well known as an enthusiastic and intelligent collector, I have been permitted to examine the collections made by him at the localities referred to, from which I have compiled the following list.
The remarks in connection with a few of the species are not wholly based upon the specimens obtained by Mr. Hepburn, but rather upon specimens received by me from various sources, and forming a portion of my private collection.
The figures in the left hand column refer to the numbers in Mr. P. P. Carpenter’s Supplementary Report (1863) to the British Association.
12. Pholadidea penita; San Diego.
13. Pholadidea ovoidea, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
17. Saxicava pholadis, Linn.; Santa Barbara.
20. Platyodon cancellatus. Conr.; Santa Barbara.
21. Cryptomya Californica, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
22. Schizothærus Nuttallii, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
35. Mytilimeria Nuttallii, Cour.; Santa Barbara.
43. Macoma secta, Conr.; San Diego.
54. Tellina Bodegensis, Hinds.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
59. Semele decisa, Conr.; San Diego.
64. Cumingia Californica, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
65. Donax Californicus, Conr.; San Diego.
74. Amiantis callosa, Conr.; San Diego.
75. Pachydesma crassatelloides, Conr.; San Diego.
77. Psephis Lordi, Baird; San Diego.
81. Chione succincta, Val.; San Diego.
82. Chione excavata, Carp.; San Diego.
84. Chione fluctifragra, Sby.; San Diego.
85. Tapes tenerrima, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
88. Saxidomus aratus, Gld.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
93. Petricola carditoides, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
97. Cardium corbis, Mart.; Santa Barbara.
103. Liocardium elatum, Sby.; San Diego.
110. Lazaria subquadrata, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
112. Lucina Californica, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
118. Diplodonta orbella, Gld.; San Diego.
119. Kellia Laperouseii, Desh.; Santa Barbara.
134. Adula falcata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
?160. Pecten ventricosus, Sby.; San Diego.
162b. Pecten latiauratus, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
162. Pecten monotimeris, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
165. Hinnites giganteus, Gray; Santa Barbara.
166c. Ostrea var rufoides, Gld.
171. Bulla nebulosa, Gld.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
175. Haminea virescens, Sby.; San Diego.
199. Melampus olivaceus, Carp.; San Diego.
243. Acmæa patina, Esch.; Santa Barbara.
247. Acmæa spectrum, Rve.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
245. Acmæa persona, Esch.; Santa Barbara.
Nacella vernalis, (Dall Ms.); Santa Barbara.
249. Lottia gigantea, Gray; Santa Barbara.
250. Scurria mitra, Esch.; Santa Barbara.
252. Rowellia radiata, Cooper; Santa Barbara.
253. Fissurella volcano, Rve.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
261. Haliotis splendens, Rve.; San Diego.
265. Phasianella compta, Gld.; San Diego.
266. Pomaulax undosus, Wood; Santa Barbara.
269. Leptothyra sanguinea, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
275. Trochiscus Norrissii, Sby.; Santa Barbara.
277. Chlorostoma funebrale, A. Ad.; Santa Barbara.
279. Chlorostoma brunneum, Phil.; Santa Barbara.
281. Chlorostoma aureotinctum, Fbs.; Santa Barbara.
282. Omphalius fuscescens, Phil.; San Diego.
283. Calliostoma canaliculatum, Mart.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
305. Crucibulum spinosum, Sby.; San Diego.
[28]306. Crepidula aculcata, Gmel.; Santa Barbara.
[28]307. —— ?dorsata, Brod.; Santa Barbara.
[28]308. —— excavata, Brod.; Santa Barbara.
[28]311. —— navicelloides, Nutt.; Santa Barbara.
[28]311. —— var. nummaria, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
[28]311. —— var. explanata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
[28]314. Hipponyx cranioides, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
328. Cerithidea sacrata, Gld.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
329. Bittium filosum, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
329b. —— var. esuriens, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
333. —— armillatum, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
337. Littorina scutulata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
366. Trivia Californica, Gray; Santa Barbara.
367. —— Solandri, Gray; Santa Barbara.
368. Erato vitellina, Hinds; Santa Barbara.
371. Drillia inermis, Hds.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
374. Drillia torosa, Carp.; Santa Barbara.
388. Conus Californicus, Hds.; Santa Barbara.
409. Scalaria Indianorum, Carp.; San Diego.
424. Cerithiopsis assimilata, C. B. Ad.; Santa Barbara.
436. Ranella Californica, Hds.; Santa Barbara.
A Surcula Carpenteriana, Gabb.; Santa Barbara.
437. Mitra maura, Swains; Santa Barbara.
442. Volvarina varia, Sby.; Santa Barbara.
443. Olivella biplicata, Sby.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
444. —— bœtica, Carp.; San Diego.
445. Nassa fossata, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
446. —— perpinguis, Hds.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
448. —— mendica, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
449. —— Cooperi, Fbs.; Santa Barbara.
450. —— tegula, Rve.; San Diego.
457. Amycla carinata, Hds.; Santa Barbara.
456. Amphissa corrugata, Rve.; Santa Barbara.
460d. Purpura saxicola, Val., var. ostrina, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
Purpura triserialis, Blainv.; Santa Barbara.
461. Monoceras engonatum, Conr.; Santa Barbara.
466. Cerastoma foliatum, Gmel; Santa Barbara.
467. —— Nuttalli, Conr.; San Diego and Santa Barbara.
473. Muricidea Californica, Hds.; San Diego.
483. Fusus ambustus, Gld.; Santa Barbara.
REMARKS.
269. Leptothyra sanguinea, Carp. Common at Monterey; all shades of color from light red to very dark purple; sometimes broadly banded with white; another variety is marked with irregular whitish streaks, causing a resemblance to the young shells of 282, Omphalius fuscescens.
275. Trochiscus Norrisii, Sby. The apex whorls of the young shells have a spiral band tesselated with white and red.
388. Conus Californicus, Hds. When young, the shells of this species are ornamented with yellowish brown markings upon a light bluish ground.
A Surcula Carpenteriana, Gabb. The most perfect recent specimen of this rare species that I have seen (described by Mr. Gabb in Vol. III, Cal. Acad. Pro. p. 183) was obtained by Mr. Hepburn; when perfect, one of the finest shells of the upper Californian province; the specimen referred to is of a clear light salmon color, traversed spirally by narrow bands or broad lines of reddish brown, and resembling in its general coloring that equally fine shell Narona Cooperi, Gabb, described as above, p. 186.
460d. Purpura var. ostrina, Gld. Deposits its yellowish eggs on the rocks at Black Point and the Cliff House near San Francisco, in the latter part of June (1865) and the middle of July (1866).
75. Pachydesma crassatelloides, Conr. Valves frequently marked with broad radiating bands of light brown.
266. Pomaulax undosus, Wood. Young shells approach closely to the immature form of Pachypoma gibberosum, Chemn.
281. Mr. Carpenter remarks in his supplementary Report to the B. A., in connection with Chlorostoma aureotinctum, Fbs.: “mouth orange spotted.” I should amend this so as to read umbilicus stained with orange.
456. Amphissa corrugata, Rve. This species assumes nearly every shade of color and an innumerable variety of markings; the latter being generally some shade of brown upon a lighter colored ground.
74. Amiantis callosa, Conr. An aberrant form of this species in my collection suggests, in outline, Dosinia.
88. Saxidomus aratus, Gld. A single specimen of a young shell of this species (Coll. Stearns) is prettily marked with brown upon the posterior dorsal portion of the valves.
Professor Whitney read the following:
Notice of the Occurrence of a Tungstate of Lime and Copper in Lower California.
BY J. D. WHITNEY.
Among some specimens brought from the vicinity of La Paz, Lower California, by Mr. Rémond, about three years since, was one which attracted my attention, as it seemed to contain an undescribed mineral. I therefore made an analysis of it and found it to consist of tungstic acid, oxide of copper, and lime, with a small quantity of water, probably not essential to its composition. The results of the analysis were as follows:
Tungstic Acid 79.69
Oxide of Copper 6.77
Lime 10.95
Protoxide of Iron .31
Water 1.40
99.12
On examining to ascertain if there was any known mineral having a composition similar to this, I found that a tungstate of lime containing copper had been described by Domeyko as occurring in the copper mines of Llamuco, near Chuapa, in the province of Coquimbo, in Chili, where it was discovered by M. Gay (Annales des Mines (4) iii, 15). That mineral, however, only contained 3.3 per cent. of oxide of copper, while the one of which the analysis is given above contains 6.77 per cent. of that substance. M. Domeyko calls the mineral analyzed by him “Scheelin calcaire cuivreux,” but does not attempt to give a formula for it, or to decide whether it is entitled to rank as a distinct species.
The Lower California mineral, of which the analysis is given above, occurs in a red metamorphic rock, associated with black tourmaline. It is crystalline-granular in structure, with a distinct cleavage in one direction, and seems to be homogeneous throughout. Its hardness is about that of Scheelite; luster, highly vitreous; streak, very light greenish-gray; color, pistachio green, passing to olive and leek green. Before the blowpipe in the glass tube it blackens, and gives off a little water. On charcoal it blackens instantly, becomes rounded on the edges, with a little intumescence, and gradually acquires the appearance of a slag, in which numerous fine points of metallic copper are seen. With the fluxes it gives the reactions of tungstic acid and copper. It is easily dissolved by chlorohydric acid, with separation of tungstic acid.
From the appearance of the mineral, I am inclined to regard it as having a definite composition, represented by the formula CuO WO₃+2 (CaO WO₃); this formula would require the following composition:
Tungstic Acid 78.43
Oxide of Copper 8.95
Lime 12.62
100.00
This agrees pretty well with the results of the analysis, although it is desirable that more specimens should be examined, and if possible from other localities. I am informed by Mr. Ashburner that he has noticed this mineral at more than one mine in Lower California.
At all events, I would suggest for the mineral in question the name of Cuproscheelite, as convenient for designating it, and as expressing its chemical and mineralogical relations, whether it be considered as a mineral substance having a distinct and fixed composition, or only as a variety of Scheelite, containing a large but uncertain amount of oxide of copper.
Dr. Ayres called attention to the fact that a carcase of a Black fish could be procured at the Potrero, at a small expense, and a subscription was raised for its purchase.
Professor Whitney exhibited a branch of Sequoia sempervirens, taken from a small tree growing near San Rafael, of which the leaves are entirely white. The tree presents a very singular appearance, surrounded as it is by other redwoods of the usual color. The fact was elicited that similar blanched redwoods exist in other localities in the Coast Ranges; but no explanation or theory was offered to account for this curious, abnormal blanching of the foliage of a single species—a similar condition of things not having been noticed, so far as known, in any other species than the redwood.