Part 3 — Regular Meeting, March 18th, 1867.

President in the Chair.

Twenty-six members present.

Messrs. Elisha Brooks, Ellis H. Holmes, L. C. Lane, M.D., John C. Pelton, J. M. Sharkey, M.D., J. A. Bauer, and Robert Hagen, were elected Resident Members, and W. H. Dall a Corresponding Member.

Donations to the Cabinet: Crystal of Borax, from Borax Lake, by Mr. Lightner; a Bald Eagle, by Dr. Ayres; a specimen of Wallapi Food, by Frank S. Alling, El Dorado Cañon; gold-bearing Quartz, from South Carolina, by Gregory Yale; Wolf Fish, from Frank Johnson; specimen of Bdellostoma, from Dr. Canfield.

Dr. Cooper presented the following paper:

The West Coast Helicoid Land Shells.

BY J. G. COOPER, M.D.

In the article on p. 259, Vol. III, of these Proceedings for April 2d, 1866, I suggested a division of the Californian Banded Helices into five subgenera, founded on the shells alone. Since then, Mr. G. W. Tryon has published a synopsis of all of them except H. facta in his “Journal of Conchology,” Vol. II, Part 4, for October, 1866, arranging them in the “genera” Aglaia, Arianta and Polymita, but differing essentially from Albers and other authors in the species he assigns to these groups. The types of these subgenera, however, differ so much from our species that it is easy to separate the shells by good subgeneric characters; and as they inhabit respectively South America, Europe, and Cuba, it is very probable that the animals differ still more. Until these have been compared, we may well hesitate in referring ours to the same groups, and must for the present be guided by the shells alone.

In examining these, the most striking and almost universal character we find is the presence of a dark band, generally pale margined, on one or both sides, and situated at or close to the breathing aperture in the animal’s mantle, apparently having some physiological connection with this opening. It is too uniform and general to be merely an ornamental marking, such as we find in many species, especially the tropical, which usually show no uniformity in the arrangement of their bands.

The next most constant characters are those derived from the nature of the surface, whether hirsute, with revolving grooves, smooth or variously sculptured, with wrinkles, zigzag or oblique patterns.

Although colors alone are usually unreliable as subgeneric characters, I am inclined to consider them as such in the case of these and some allied species, from their apparent connection with important organs. In fact the band, so constant in this large series of species, takes precedence of considerable variety of form, for the variations in outline, umbilicus, and peristome, though great in the extremes, are so gradually shaded and blended together in the whole series that no well-defined generic divisions can be founded on them, though useful for the minor grouping. The umbilicus especially is variable even in specimens of the same species, those from southern and arid regions being often nearly imperforate, and more conical than others.

Several Mexican species belong to the same series, such as H. Remondii Tryon, H. Griseola Pfeiff, and H. Berlandieriana Moric., the two last extending to Texas. Others, as H. Humboldtiana Val., scarcely differ from the typical Pomatia in form. I would, however, exclude the true Hygromias associated with these by Tryon. I would also exclude the plain or variegated species of Lower California, which approach nearer to Polymita. It must be observed that many of our species approach in form to others of allied groups, so that if we overlook characters of color and surface, we will be inclined to place in the same groups, Nos. 40 and 52, 24 and 32, 29 and 47, etc. Even in color Nos. 32 to 35 show an approach to the group of Lower California, but seem more closely allied to our series, having merely a geographical affinity to the former. Size is of little value, even as a specific character among the land shells, nearly all the species furnishing specimens twice as large as others of the same kind. The proportions of height to breadth are more reliable, but not constant.

The subgenus or division characterized by the band is scarcely distinguishable as a whole from the typical Helix, (type pomatia) of Europe, though the extremes vary greatly, simulating the three or more foreign genera to which various authors have attached them.[32]

Our species are distinct enough among themselves when the true specific characters here given are noted, though occasionally hybrids undoubtedly occur. Dr. W. Newcomb has raised many specimens in his garden in Oakland, combining the characters of Nos. 24, 25, 29, 31, and 43, in such manner that it is often impossible to determine which they belong to. Yet their natural locations are usually so widely separated that only occasionally can hybrids occur in a state of nature, and where several do inhabit one locality, as 24, 27, 28, 46 do at Santa Cruz, though nearly allied, intermediate forms are not found. Some of the so-called species are, however, scarcely more than hybrids or varieties, but the names are retained as indicating their differences, though almost every species is divisible into varieties as well marked or better. Thus the specimen described on p. 260 of this volume (from Mount Diablo) seems to be a hybrid between mormonum and ramentosa, and we also find specimens connecting the latter with 25, 26, and perhaps others.

Occasional links also occur, connecting many others of the banded species together.

A similar intermixing of species, where nearly allied, occurs among our marine shells wherever two or more encroach on each other’s limits; but the comparative rarity of the intermediate forms seems to indicate hybridity rather than specific identity of their allies.

It is probable that groups X and XI and XIII and XIV should be united, as the distinctive characters between them are not of first importance, and species of each are very closely similar otherwise. Parallel columns may be formed, as indicated on p. 260, in which close resemblances in form, number of whorls, etc., between species of the different groups may be shown, and this may be extended so as to show analogous parallels with those of other sub-families, or even families, but these resemblances do not indicate affinity, though very likely to mislead. A geographical arrangement of some groups is also indicated, though imperfectly, as there are no impassable limits between them. For special localities of many species, see vol. III, pp. 62, 115, 180, 259, and II, 91, 103.[33]

The Darwinian theory of development might be very beautifully illustrated by these banded snails, if we could find evidence that their various forms had all originated from a common stock (which might be the ramentosa, as that species now occupies a nearly central locality). But though fossil forms have been found differing considerably from their present representatives, there are others apparently as old, which show no such differences, and none of them show a tendency towards any common original type. The one referred to by Professor Whitney on p. 278, as found with the human skull of supposed pliocene (?) age, does not differ perceptibly from specimens of mormonum, now living near the locality. It retains even its band of color, which is soon lost in specimens imbedded near the surface, and this (if not preserved by its deep burial or incrustation) is strong evidence against a great antiquity of the skull. All other fossil Helicoids are considered postpliocene, at least so far as known in this State, though extinct species occur in Europe as far back as the Eocene.

The bandless species of the west coast slope, from lat. 33° to 49°, are added to the synopsis, to show their relations and analogies with the banded. The arrangement followed is essentially that of Tryon, except the addition of some he has omitted, or not yet published. The generic divisions are also reduced to groups, as the true generic characters are not yet settled. The lip is entirely wanting in the first family, but in the bandless Helicidæ of this coast, it becomes of great importance for grouping of species, (49 to 55) of which we have very few, while east of the Rocky Mountains there are more than fifty. Group III is also largely developed on the Atlantic slopes. The tendency now is to divide too much, which is as unnatural as to unite all under genus Helix, as many still do. It is probable that the divisions here called subfamilies, answer more nearly to the true genera than any others, though they require modification, and the selection of names applicable to them as genera, is a difficult task. To undertake to distinguish genera by the lingual teeth, mucous pores, or any other single character of the soft parts, is less practicable than to do it by the shells alone, and little if any more reliable. There may, however, be foreign shells closely resembling ours in form, which must still be separated on account of the animal.

I have omitted most of the compound terms used by authors to describe the forms or shells, as they are not used with any uniform system, and do not well define the differences between the various species of the same group. The dimensions are more reliable for separating allied forms. “Striæ” is also an indefinite term, used by various authors for lines of growth, revolving grooves or stripes of color, and is therefore never used alone in this article.

It is remarkable that no reversed species or variety has yet been found west of the Rocky Mountains.

Order PULMONIFERA.

Mollusca with or without shells, breathing by lungs, inhabiting the land, fresh or salt waters.

Subord. Geophila.

Terrestrial Molluscs. Section with external rounded shells.

Note.—The * indicates the original measurement of authors, in hundredths of an inch.

A. Shell with edge of mouth sharp.

Fam. Helicellidæ. Shell corneous, thin, polished, translucent, sometimes with internal teeth.

Subfam. Vitrininæ. Shell very fragile, whorls 2 or 3, the last greatly expanded, not covering the animal.

I Genus Binneya Cp. Ear-shaped, nearly flat, one-third the length of animal, spire none, corneous.

1 notabilis Cp. Whorls 2, pale brown, first with 30 delicate revolving ribs, epidermis expanded; diam. *0.46, alt. 0.12 in.

II Genus Vitrina Drap. Depressed subglobose, last whorl very large, swollen, imperforate, shining.

2 Pfeifferi Newc. Wh. 3, greenish white, suture finely margined, columella arched, spire flattened, diam. *0.19, axis 0.09.

Subfam. Helicellinæ. Shell thin, translucent, whorls 4 to 6, mouth moderate, surface smooth, pitted below or perforated.

III Group. Hyalina Feruss. Depressed globose, moderately umbilicate, or pitted, vitreous, shining, whorls uniform.

3 Breweri Newc. Wh. 5, pale corneous, umbilicus large, suture slightly channeled, aperture lunar; diam. *0.20, axis 0.10.

IV Group. Macrocyclis Beck. Discoid, widely umbilicate, growth lines often coarse, last whorl usually deflexed.

4 Newberryana W. G. Binn. Wh. 6, reddish-brown, flattened, mouth not deflexed, fine revolving striæ; diam. 1.43, axis 0.50.

5 Vancouverensis Lea. Wh. 5, yellowish-green, shining, very slight revolving grooves; diam. 1.10 to *1.25, axis 0.40.

6 sportella Gould. Wh. 5, pale-greenish, growth lines coarse, crossed by revolving grooves; diam. *0.50 to 0.70, axis 0.20 to 0.25.

7 Voyana Newc. Wh. 5, pale corneous, mouth much sinuated above, body whorl crossed by a thick callus; diam. *0.50, axis 0.15 to 0.20.

Subfam. Gastrodontinæ. Generally depressed conic, and lamellarly toothed inside, growth lines distinct, small.

V Group. Conulus Fitz. minute, conoid, whorls 4 to 6, narrow, aperture basal, transverse, perforate or not, without teeth.

8 chersina Say. Wh. 5-6, amber-yellow, imperforate, base indurated, smooth, shining; diam. 0.10 to 0.12, axis, 0.08.

9 chersinella Dall. Wh. 4½ to 5, yellowish, narrowly perforate, mouth oblique, growth ribs distinct; diam. *0.14, axis 0.09.

Subfam. Patulinæ. Thickish, epidermis opaque, form discoidal to subglobose, umbilicate, often striped or hirsute.

VI Group. Pseudohyalina Morse. Minute, convex discoid, nearly smooth, umbilicate, unicolor, whorls 3 to 5.

10 milium Morse. Wh. 3, greenish white, plano-convex, translucent, minute revolving grooves; diam. 0.05, axis 0.02. Nevada Co. and Angel Island, Rowell, Monterey, Canfield, San Francisco and Santa Cruz, rare. No revolving grooves seen.

11 minuscula Binn. Wh. 4, whitish, nearly flat, mouth sub-oval, whorls narrow, smooth, a parietal callus; diam. 0.09, axis 0.01.

12 conspecta Bland. Wh. 4, dark corneous, obtuse convex, smooth, mouth sub-circular, oblique; diam. 0.08 to 0.10, axis 0.04 to 0.05.

VII Group. Patula Held. Size moderate, convex-discoid, concave below, umbilicus showing all the whorls, unicolor.

13 Hornii Gabb. Wh. 4½, opaque, brown, sparsely hirsute, spire flattened, umbilicus a little contracted; diam. *0.16, axis 0.09.

14 Whitneyi Newc. Wh. 4, smoky-brown, smooth, nearly flat, umbilicus plainly perspective; diam. *0.20, axis 0.10.

15 Cronkhitei Newc. Wh. 4, yellowish corneous, a little convex, growth-ribs distinct, not plainly perspective; diam. *0.20, axis 0.15.

16 striatella Anth. Wh. 3-4, pale corneous, depressed convex, umbilicus large, shallow, growth-ribs faint; diam. 0.20, axis 0.15. The west slope specimens may be all of last species.

17 Durantii Newc. Wh. 4, light corneous, flat above, nearly smooth, umbilicus perspective, opaque; diam. *0.20, axis 0.07.

VIII Group. Helicodiscus? Morse. Planorboid, whorls visible below, several sets of internal teeth. (“Polygyra” Tryon, part.)

18 polygyrella Bland. Wh. 7 to 8, yellowish horn color, 3 teeth opposite mouth, 3 nearer mouth, 1 parietal; diam. *0.44, axis 0.19.

IX Group. Anguispira Morse. Large, rather heavy, subturbinate, strongly ribbed, grooved or striped, umbilicate.

19 Idahoensis Newc. Wh. 5, ashy corneous, very convex, 20 to 25 strong ribs on last whorl, fewer above; diam. *0.52, axis 0.45.

20 Cooperii W. G. Binn. Wh. 5 to 6, white, 1 or 2 brown distant bands or mottlings, fine revolving grooves; diam. 0.58 to 0.98, axis 0.35 to 0.37.

[34] 21 solitaria Say. Wh. 6, white to dark brown, 1 to 4 brown bands, or a var. (?) brown, with 1 pale band; diam. 1.00, axis 0.80.

22 strigosa Gould. Wh. 5, ashy to brown, usually 5 to 8 banded below middle, angled or carinate, revolving grooves; diam. 0.75 to 1.00, axis 0.28 to 0.50.

N.B. Nos. 13, 16, 18, and Group IX are found only east of California.

B. Shell with a distinct thickened lip.

Fam. Helicidæ. Epidermis thickish, opaque, colored, lip thickened, expanded, reflected or toothed. Large or moderate.

Genus Helix Linn. Form globose—conic to depressed carinate; umbilicus wide to very small or covered; lip thickened, sometimes a little expanded, and rarely tuberculate below, or continuous across body whorl. Color, (in our species) yellowish brown to black, with a darker band around the periphery and sutural region, generally margined on each side (at least when young) by a pale one.

†Band triple in young and thin specimens, (wanting in varieties. Bandless specimens of Nos. 24, 25, 27, 28, 33, have been noticed.) Colors, uniform brown or olivaceous, sometimes mottled. Obliquely reticulate grooved, or wrinkled-malleated. From forests of oak, etc., in middle regions, or moderate elevations southward.

X Group. (“Arianta” Albers, No. 23. “Polymita” Tryon, No. 24.) Form resembling H. pomatia, sculpture in zigzag or divaricate grooves. Subimperforate.

23 Californiensis Lea. Wh. 5, yellowish-olive, thin, band pale-margined, sculpture faint, subglobose; diam. 0.75 to 0.88, axis 0.56 to 0.62.

24 redimita W. G. Binn. Wh. (4½) 5½ to 6, reddish brown, band single, umbil. small or none; (var. of 25?) diameter 0.80, axis 0.48.

XI Group. (Arianta and Aglaia part., auct.) Form much like Arianta arbustorum, sculpture like last. Umbilicate.

25 Nickliniana Lea. Wh. 6 to 7, yellowish-brown, oblique grooved, wrinkled or malleated, umbil. small; diam. 0.72 to 1.05, axis 0.42 to 0.80.

26 Bridgesii Newc. (Not of Tryon, 1866.) Wh. 6, grayish corneous, thinner, band broader, umbil. wider than 25 (a var.?); diam. *1.00, axis 0.73.

27 arrosa Gld. Wh. 5½ to 7, brown, mottled yellow, (vars. yellow or olive, bandless) wrinkled malleate; diam. 1.10 to *1.60, axis 0.59 to 0.90.

28 exarata Pfeiff. (Not of Weigm. = cælatura Fer.) Wh. 6 to 7, yellow, or olive and brown mixed, strongly wrinkled, faintly malleate; diam. 0.75 to 1.15, axis 0.40 to 0.62.

29 ramentosa Gld. Wh. 5½ to 6½, yellowish brown, thin, oblique grooved, sometimes wrinkled; diam. 0.70 to 1.30, axis 0.57 to 0.90.

30 reticulata Pfeiff. “Wh. 5½, reddish brown, band single, sculpture like 29,” (probably a var.); diam. *0.85, axis 0.47.

31 tudiculata Binn. Wh. 5 to 5½, brown or olive, band wide, paler margined, malleate, body whorl swollen; diam. 0.90 to 1.40, axis 0.45 to 0.80.

XII Group. (“Polymita” Tryon, part, “Arianta” Albers. part.) Sub-globose conic; axis, 0.6 to 0.8 diam.; band single, obscure, or none, often mottled; smooth or with revolving grooves, sub-imperforate. Usually paler below.

32 Kellettii Forbes. Wh. 5, reddish with pale mottling in bands, faint revolving or oblique grooves; diam. 0.72 to 1.20, axis 0.48 to 0.68.

33 crebristriata Newc. Wh. 5, dark corneous, band obscure or none, lip sometimes continuous; diam. *0.92, axis 0.55 to 0.80.

34 intercisa W. G. Binn. Wh. 5, grayish or brown, band obscure, deeply grooved, lip thick, continuous, tubercled; (= 33 var.?) diam. *0.84, axis 0.57. “Hab. probably San Miguel I.” Newcomb, from worn specimens in his museum, not “Oregon.”

35 Tryoni Newc. Wh. 5½ to 6, bluish or mottled, pale below, band faint, lower lip sometimes tubercled; diam. *0.80, axis 0.55.

36 Carpenteri Newc. Wh. 5½, brownish white, band faint, fine revolving grooves, mouth subcircular; diam. *0.90, axis 0.64.

37? Rowellii Newc. “Wh. 4½, opaque white, no band, or sculpture” (bleached?), mouth subcircular, umbilicate; diam. *0.60, axis 0.40. (Unique specimen, and may be of the Mexican group, like lævis, etc.)

“Arianta” Remondii Tryon, and “Galaxias” griseola and Berlandieriana, of Mexico, seem to connect this group with the next.

†† Band triple, colors strongly defined.

XIII Group. (Aglaia Alb. part.) Generally lower than group XII, and lip more expanded, umbilicus large or moderate, with revolving grooves, or smooth.

‡ Colors light, often palest below. Inhabit dry or treeless regions, from lat. 32° to 36°.

38 facta Newc. Wh. 5 to 5½, white, or brownish above, lip yellow, umbil. nearly covered; diam. *0.42, axis 0.22.

39 Gabbii Newc. Wh. 5, band margins and grooves obsolete; (unique, between 38 and 40;) diam. *0.40, axis 0.20.

40 rufocincta Newc. Wh. 5 to 6, pale brown, depressed, umbil. moderate, lip broad; diam. 0.50 to 0.85, axis 0.22 to 0.45.

41 Traskii Newc. Wh. 6 to 6½, like last, but umbil. larger, lip thinner, usually higher; diam. 0.90 to 1.00, axis 0.40 to 0.62.

42 Ayresiana Newc. Wh. 6 to 7, yellowish, paler below, strongly grooved, spire elevated; diam. *0.80, axis 0.55. “Santa Cruz I., Cal.” Newcomb coll.

‡‡ Colors dark, often paler above. Inhabit damp coniferous forests, lat. 37° to 50°.

43 Dupetithouarsii Desh. Wh. 7 to 8, brown or olive, band margins whitish, grooves obsolete, often submalleate; diam. 0.90 to *1.20, axis 0.54 to *0.60.

44 fidelis Gray. Wh. 6½ to 7, band and beneath black, band margins and above red or yellow (a hybrid? var., black, and becoming slightly angled); diam. 1.12 to 1.50, axis 0.60 to 0.90. “Oregonensis” Lea, may be = 44 jun.

XIV Group. (Aglaia Albers, part.) Depressed, usually subangled, hirsute or bristle marked, umbil. large.

45 infumata Gld. Chestnut to black, a single band sometimes visible, angled, lip thin, bristles deciduous; (closely allied to black var. of 44;) diam. 1.40 to *1.50, axis 0.54 to 0.60.

46 sequoicola Cp. Wh. 6½, dark brown, rounded, bristles only in young, leaving marks; diam. *1.08 to 1.20, axis 0.50 to 0.54.

47 Mormonum Pfeiff. Wh. 6 to 6½, brown, depressed, sometimes subangled, sometimes bristle marked; diam. 0.95 to 1.30, axis 0.50 to 0.54.

48 Hillebrandi Newc. Wh. 6, yellowish brown, bands hid by persistent long bristles, subcarinate, lip broad; diam. 0.80 to 0.96, axis 0.35 to 0.40.

C. Bandless; lip more developed, reflected, often toothed at the base.

Genus Mesodon Raf. Lip broadly expanded, often 1-3 toothed, or with parietal tooth only, sometimes none; corneous.

XV Group. (“Arianta.”) Toothless, umbilicus large, surface coarsely wrinkled or granulate, lip broad, reflexed.

49 Townsendiana Lea. Wh. 5½, to 6, mixed yellow and brown, body whorl coarsely wrinkled, fine revolving grooves; diam. 0.68 to 1.38, axis 0.35 to 0.55.[35]

50 anachoreta W. G. Binn. “Wh. 6, reddish ashen, granulated and sparsely indented;” diam. *1.00, axis 0.54.

XVI Group. Odotropis Raf. “Tooth upon columella, umbilicus covered.” Lower lip tuberculate, and a parietal tooth.

51 devia Gld. Wh. 6, brown or olive, no sculpture except distinct lines of growth; diam. 0.80, axis 0.45.

XVII Group. Aplodon Raf. One parietal tooth, (or none) perforate or imperforate, hirsute or smooth, lip simple.

52 Columbiana Lea. Wh. 5½ to 6, corneous brown, with or without hairs, umbilicate; diam. 0.50 to 0.70, axis 0.25 to 0.35. The small imperforate and toothed form usually classed with this species may better be considered a rounded var. of germana, the subangled form of which is very rare.

53 germana Gld. “Wh. 5½, reddish corneous, hirsute, subangled, one parietal tooth, imperforate;” diam. *0.30, axis 0.20.

XVIII Group. Triodopsis Raf. “Umbil. large, a tooth on each lip, and one parietal.” Sometimes hirsute, hairs deciduous.

54 Mullani Bld. Wh. 5½ to 6, brownish corneous, microscopic spiral lines and tubercles; (hairy?) diameter *0.53, axis 0.29.

55 loricata Gld. Wh. 5½, brown or greenish, scale-like wrinkles quincuncially arranged; diam. *0.25 to 0.35, axis *0.10 to 0.20.

I am indebted to Dr. Newcomb and Mr. R. E. C. Stearns for much assistance in preparing this paper. Though not offered as a final arrangement of the species, it is hoped that this synopsis may aid in their determination, and thus make a step towards a correct systematizing of this difficult series.

There are four or five other subgenera among the 50 species of this family in the Atlantic States, divided by Bland into fifteen groups. He places Nos. 51, 54, and 53 in his 8th, 9th, and 15th groups respectively.—(Ann. N. Y. Lyc. N. H. 1864.)

Prof. W. P. Blake read the following:

Origin of the Submerged Forests in the Columbia River, Oregon.

BY WM. P. BLAKE.

The submerged forests of fir trees, extending about twenty-five miles along the Columbia River, above the Cascades, have long excited the curiosity of travelers upon that stream. The trees stand erect as they grew, but the tops have decayed and broken off, leaving only those portions of the trees that have been protected from the air by the covering of water. At extreme high-water very few of these old trunks can be seen, but at low-water they appear in great numbers, and project a few inches or feet above the surface, and in some places they extend far out into the stream.

These trees are not petrified, as is supposed by many. The outer portions are much softened and partly decayed, but towards the heart the wood is sound, and appears to be identical in character with the fir which covers the mountains around. Some cedar stumps are also found.

It is well known that fir trees will not grow below the high-water mark of our streams, or where the roots would be subject to overflows. Flooding the roots of the fir even for a few days is sufficient to destroy its life. It is thus clear that there has been a change in the level of the water since the forests grew. Either the land has sunk or the water has been raised: the latter appears to have been the fact.

The river at the Cascades, just below the submerged forests, plunges over great masses of a hard volcanic conglomerate, which forms the base of the cliffs on each side. This conglomerate, which is 150 to 200 feet thick, rests upon a stratum of sandy clay. This stratum is much softer than the conglomerate, and yields more rapidly to the action of running water. It may be seen when the water is low, at the foot of the Cascades, with the hard conglomerate overhanging it in large masses.

From all these facts, it appears that the river, in cutting its way downwards through the Cascade Range, reached this soft substratum, and for a long time flowed in a comparatively unobstructed channel at a much lower level than now, thus permitting the forests to grow along its banks. The extensive undermining of the conglomerate caused it at length to fall into the stream, and this, together with the sliding in of the banks upon this soft foundation, I regard as forming the obstruction which dammed the waters and caused the overflow of the forests above.

The mountains rise on each side to a height of 2,500 or 3,000 feet, and are composed of nearly horizontal beds of lava. One of these mountains on the right bank, or Washington Territory side, presents vertical cliffs towards the Cascades, and these cliffs have a freshly broken appearance, as if a large part of the mountain had broken off at no very remote period. The surface of the country between this cliff and the Cascades is very much broken, and the railroad which traverses it, exposes enormous masses of the conglomerate, piled confusedly together as if they had been hurled down by a land-slide. Mr. Brazee, the engineer of the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, informs me that the ground is in constant motion toward the river, and it has necessitated the relaying of the track within the past year. The same phenomena have been observed on the left bank, or Oregon side. The bank is in constant motion there, and at low-water a fine blue clay may be seen rising in the channel, as if crowded out by the pressure of the rocks above. As there has not been any perceptible change of level in the stream for years past, we may conclude that the erosive action of the current is fully equal to the encroachment of the banks.

The Indians of the Columbia have a tradition of a great convulsion at the Cascades. They assert that the Chinook canoes formerly ascended the river as far as a water-fall at the Dalles, passing, at the Cascades, under a bridge of rock. This bridge, or arch of rock, they say, fell in at the time of a quarrel between the two mountains, Mt. Hood and St. Helen’s, and at the same time the waterfall at the Dalles was destroyed, so that salmon could ascend to the Upper Columbia. Before that the fall was so high that salmon could not get up, and all the upper country Indians were obliged to go to the Dalles for their supply.

The general accuracy of this tradition seems highly probable. The Dalles are now a succession of rapids and low falls, in a narrow channel, between vertical walls of basaltic lava. There is very little fall or current in the river below the Dalles to the Cascades, and the elevation of the water by an obstruction at the latter point would in all probability affect the height of the lower fall at the Dalles.

The sandy substratum of the coarse conglomerate at the Cascades is evidently an old river or beach deposit. It is accompanied by layers of round water-worn rocks, and is filled with trunks of trees lying prostrate. These trees are fossilized. Some of them are half coal and half stone. The central portions are usually coal-like or carbonized, and the outer parts silicified. They vary in size, from a few inches to six feet in diameter, and are nearly all flattened by pressure. This stratum is evidently the source of the great quantities of silicified wood which are found about the Cascades.

Mr. Stearns read the following note on a large specimen of Orthagoriscus analis, Ayres:

In passing through the Italian Fish Market in this City, in the month of October, 1866, I noticed an unusually large specimen of Orthagoriscus analis, commonly called “Sun Fish,” described by Dr. Ayres on page 31 of Vol. II of the Academy Proceedings. Curiosity led me to make a measurement, which I find in my note-book as follows: length from snout to extreme caudal point, 5 feet 8¼ inches; from tip of dorsal to tip of anal fin, 7 feet 6 inches. I found the anal and dorsal fins to be nearly the same length, measuring from the tip to junction with body 23 inches. Weight, as stated by the fishermen, 632 pounds. It will be seen that the measurement from tip to tip of fins as above, exceeds the length by 21¾ inches.

Mr. Stearns made the following remarks as to the true habitat of Helix Ayresiana, Newc.:

On page 103, Vol. II, of the Academy’s Proceedings, may be found, under date of March 18th, 1861, the description by Dr. W. Newcomb of a Helix H. Ayresiana, the habitat of which was, as I learn from Dr. N., doubtfully assigned at that time to “Northern Oregon.” Recently Dr. Newcomb has himself detected it on Santa Cruz Island, off the Coast of California, near Santa Barbara.

Professor Whitney exhibited a sample of the coal used at Salt Lake City, taken by Mr. Ives, chief of one of the Central Pacific Railroad surveying parties, from a wagon on its way from the mines to the city. The locality from which it was obtained is in Webber Cañon, and the geological age of the deposit is supposed to be cretaceous. The quality of the coal seems to be good; but nothing very definite could be communicated in regard to the extent or geological position of the bed.

Professor Whitney also exhibited a specimen of very pure rock salt, obtained from the Salt Mountain on the Muddy River, a branch of the Virgin, nearly a hundred miles south of Pahranagat, by Major S. S. Lyon, formerly of the Kentucky Geological Survey. Major Lyon being present, at the request of the President, gave an account of this interesting locality, which is one long known to explorers. He stated that the Salt Mountain lies on both sides of the Muddy River, and rises 400 feet above that stream. The locality is about thirty miles northeast of Colville, and twenty from the Colorado. Major Lyon also gave some facts in regard to the geology of the vicinity of Pahranagat, where he had been residing for some months past.

Professor Whitney presented two analyses of ores from the Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Nevada, made by Professor Domeyko, of Santiago, Chile, and communicated by Mr. Rémond, who is now residing in that place. They are as follows:

I. II.

Gold, 1.10 0.18

Silver, 15.90 8.90

Lead, 27.30 10.00

Zinc, 23.40 21.70

Iron, 2.80 12.00

Copper, 2.00 —

Antimony, 1.30 —

Sulphur, 18.70 26.90

Matrix, 7.50 20.32

100.00 100.00

The name of the mine from which they were taken was not given.

Mr. Yale brought up the subject of the gold mines in Africa, supposed to be worked by the Emperor Napoleon III, and kept secret from the world in general. A discussion ensued, in the course of which Professor Whitney and Mr. Ashburner expressed their doubts as to the possibility of the locality of any extensive mining operations being long concealed, and their disbelief in the truth of newspaper statements to this effect.