Regular Meeting, July 3, 1865.
President in the chair.
Eight members present. Prof. John Torrey, R. Kennicott W. H. Dall, Horace Mann, and Capt. Wright, visitors.
Donations to the Cabinet: A collection of Rocky Mountain plants, by Mr. Bolander.
General discussion as to the motions of the Flying-fish.
Remarks by Mr. Kennicott and Dr. Behr upon the relation of the Esquimaux to the North American Indians. Dr. Behr stated that the Esquimaux could be considered only as a kind of Indians, their language being of the same structure, and their different habits were owing to physical influences. He further stated, that the Esquimaux lived formerly farther south. Mr. Kennicott remarked, that from his observations and information derived from Madam Roshkin and from St. Zagoshins’ Report, he believed the natives, for some hundreds of miles up the Kvichpak or Yonkon River, were Esquimaux rather than Indians.
Dr. Torrey stated, that he found on a trip to the Yosemite Valley, a plant that he described twenty years ago, and which he had not since seen in the collections examined by him. He named the plant, finding it to be a new genus Kelloggia; the plant is quite common in the valley and vicinity, and belongs to the family of Rubiaceæ; the aspect of the plant is, in regard to its ramification, much like that of a Galium, while its leaves and their arrangement resemble an Epilobium. It was first discovered by some member of Com. Wilke’s Expedition, somewhere along or near the Sacramento River.
Dr. Torrey also stated that he found Sarcodes Sanguinea, (Torrey), the Snow-plant of the Californians, to be apparently indifferent as to what plant it fixes itself or derives its nourishment from; he found its fibre penetrating into the root of a Rumex, and not as has been supposed into the roots of Sequoia gigantea. He also spoke of the great beauty and fragrance of the California White Lily, (Lilium Washingtonianum,) and of its being quite common in the vicinity of the Yosemite Valley. Its habits are much like that of the common white lily, (Lilium candidum).