The following papers were presented.
Note on Octopus punctatus, Gabb.
BY W. H. DALL, ACTING DIRECTOR SCI. CORPS W. U. T. EX.
A half-decayed specimen of this species, (described by Mr. Gabb, in Proc. Cal. Acad., Ap. 7th, 1862) discovered in some alcoholic miscellanea, recently, afforded the following observations.
The buccal plates or mandibles, resemble those of O. tuberculatus, Blainv. [Woodw. Man. Pl. I. Fig. 2] but are more produced longitudinally. They are black and very brittle.
(Fig. 27.)
Dental formula, 3·3·3 ([Fig. 27], A), or 1/(1×1)·2·1·
Rhachis armed with one central quinquedentate tooth, and two lateral, simple, denticles; the insertion of all is broadly arcuate. The pleuræ are provided each with two simple recurved uncini and one rhomboidal plate with a small recurved hook. The central rhachidian tooth is occasionally irregular. ([Fig. 27], L, X). When immature, the dental laminæ are without color, more slender, compressed, and the dentations are less distinct. ([Fig. 27], ‛L.) Immature rows, about 15, perfect 60, worn and broken 25, total 100. Mag. 100 diameters. Length of specimen 3 feet. Locality, near San Francisco. From the market.
Professor Whitney communicated the following abstract of the results obtained by M. Rémond in his geological explorations of Northern Mexico, made in 1863 to 1865, and drawn up from his notes and specimens, after reference of the fossils obtained to Mr. Gabb and Dr. Newberry. M. Rémond has gone to Chili to continue his geological investigations, if his health permits; and he expects to write out a more detailed account of his Mexican work, whenever he has an opportunity of doing so. In the mean time, however, it is his desire that this abstract should be drawn up and published, that at least the more important results may be placed as soon as possible in the hands of those interested in the development of the geological structure of those countries which border on the Pacific coast. In presenting this paper, Professor Whitney desired to express his admiration of the courage and endurance with which M. Rémond had prosecuted his investigations in Mexico, where he had to contend with every kind of difficulty and danger, but where, however, he had obtained results of great value, throwing the first rays of light on the age of the formations of a very interesting and economically important mining region—a region which has been often visited, but where, previous to M. Rémond’s examinations, no positive evidence of the geological position of any of the stratified rocks had been obtained, and no clue given to the relations of the metalliferous veins to each other, or to the rocks in which they are inclosed.