President in the Chair.
Present, eleven members.
Donations to the Cabinet were received as follows:
A collection of pine cones, from H. G. Bloomer. A specimen of rock, containing cretaceous fossils, from the vicinity of Fort Tejon (?), by E. T. Schenck. Two specimens of Monocentris Japonicus Cuv. from Dr. Ayres.
Donations to the Library:
Commercial Relations of the United States for the year ending Sept. 30th, 1861, from the Department of the Interior. Classification of the Coleoptera of North America, by John Le Conte, M.D., Part I. Smithsonian Instructions for collecting eggs and nests of North American birds. Smithsonian Directions for collecting, preserving, and transporting specimens of Natural History: the three last-named volumes were presented by Dr. Ayres.
Professor Whitney read the following communication in regard to the progress of the State Geological Survey of California.
The Act of the Legislature authorizing a geological survey of this State was approved April 21st, 1860; but operations were not commenced until about the first of December of that year, consequently the work has been in progress for a little more than two years.
The plan of the survey, according to the requirements of the act by which it was organized, demands “an accurate and complete geological survey of the State,” and a report containing “a full and scientific description of its rocks, fossils, soils, and minerals, and of its botanical and zoological productions.” Provision is also made for the collection of specimens in all departments of geology and natural history, which specimens are to be deposited “in such place as shall be hereafter provided for that purpose by the Legislature.”
The following persons have been employed on the survey since it was commenced: Professor W. H. Brewer, as Principal Assistant, and specially in charge of the department of Botany and Agricultural Geology. Professor Brewer, however, up to the present time, has been chiefly engaged in the geological field work of the Survey. Mr. William Ashburner was employed from the commencement of the work, up to the spring of 1862, in the field; and, for a considerable portion of the time, in examining the gold-quartz mines and machinery in the principal mining counties of the Sierra Nevada. Mr. A. Rémond served as volunteer, in the field work, during the season of 1862. Mr. W. M. Gabb took the place of Palæontologist to the Survey at the beginning of the year 1862, which position he still continues to hold. Mr. C. Averill was connected with the Survey from its commencement up to the month of February last, as Clerk, Commissary, and Barometrical Observer. Dr. J. G. Cooper has been in charge of the department of Zoology, and has been employed, at intervals, as the financial condition of the Survey permitted, since July 1st, 1861. In the topographical department, Mr. C. F. Hoffmann has been employed constantly since March, 1861; and Mr. V. Wackenreuder, at intervals, during the past year.