Final Evaluation Report for Uniformed Services

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Final Evaluation Report for Uniformed Services Family
Health Plan Continuous Open Enrollment 1st Edition
Michael Shoenbaum Digital Instant Download
Author(s): Michael Shoenbaum
ISBN(s): 9780833030047, 0833030043
Edition: 1
File Details: PDF, 2.04 MB
Year: 2001
Language: english
 iii

Preface

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 established the
authority for a demonstration program under which eligible beneficiaries were to
be permitted to enroll in the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP) at
any time. Congress directed that the Department of Defense (DoD) test the
feasibility and advisability of providing “continuous open enrollment” for a two-
year period at a minimum of two of the seven USFHP sites; submit a report to
Congress by March 15, 2001, evaluating the benefits and costs of the program;
and make a recommendation concerning whether to authorize continuous open
enrollment at all USFHP sites on a permanent basis.

RAND performed the evaluation for the TRICARE Management Activity of the
Office of the Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs as part of a project entitled
“TRICARE Senior Supplement and Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
Demonstration Evaluations.” The work was carried out jointly by RAND
Health’s Center for Military Health Policy Research and the Forces and
Resources Policy Center of the National Defense Research Institute. The latter is a
federally funded research and development center sponsored by the Office of the
Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the unified commands, and the defense
agencies.

The report should be of interest to members of Congress, DoD, the seven USFHP
programs, and military retirees and their dependents.
 vii

Tables
4.1. Focus Group Participants ............................... 14
5.1. Health Insurance Options Available to USFHP Eligibles......... 18
5.2. Selected Comments from Focus Group Participants ............ 21
5.3. Selected Focus Group Comments Regarding Satisfaction with
USFHP ............................................ 23
5.4. Selected Focus Group Comments Regarding Enrollment in
USFHP ............................................ 24
5.5. Selected Focus Group Comments Regarding Continuous Open
Enrollment ......................................... 25
5.6. USFHP Enrollment, 1996 and 2000 ........................ 27
5.7. Enrollment Under the Continuous Open Enrollment
Demonstration....................................... 28
5.8. Enrollment at Non-Demonstration Sites .................... 30
C.1. Medicare Managed-Care Market and Plan Descriptions in
USFHP Continuous Open Enrollment Demonstration Sites
Compared with Typical National Plan and Rates .............. 46
 ix

Summary

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 established the
authority for a demonstration program under which eligible beneficiaries were to
be permitted to enroll in the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP) at
any time. We will refer to this policy as “continuous open enrollment.” Congress
directed that the Department of Defense (DoD) test the feasibility and
advisability of providing continuous open enrollment for a two-year period at a
minimum of two (out of seven) USFHP sites; submit a report to Congress by
March 15, 2001, evaluating the benefits and costs of the program; and make a
recommendation concerning whether to authorize continuous open enrollment at
all USFHP sites on a permanent basis.

Background
The USFHP sites are designated providers of the TRICARE Prime program
(TRICARE Prime is one of the three components of TRICARE, the health
insurance program for current and former military personnel and their
dependents). Except for active duty personnel, all military beneficiaries living in
the seven USFHP service areas are eligible to enroll in and receive care from
USFHP. USFHP is currently the only TRICARE product available to Medicare-
eligible military beneficiaries.

Military retirees and their dependents who live in a USFHP service area have
had the option of directly enrolling in USFHP during a designated 30-day period
in the spring of each year; the exact period varies by site. In contrast, eligible
military beneficiaries (i.e., those under age 65) can enroll in TRICARE Prime at
any time. Enrollment in USFHP is for a one-year period, during which enrollees
are locked out of receiving medical care at Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs)
or from other TRICARE providers. Medicare-eligible beneficiaries are also
instructed not to use their Medicare benefit while enrolled in USFHP, on penalty
of being disenrolled.

Covered benefits for all enrollees are, at minimum, the same as those covered by
TRICARE Prime. For Medicare-eligible enrollees, USFHP thus covers some
services that Medicare does not, particularly prescription drugs and preventive
services. USFHP receives capitated payments from DoD for enrolled military
beneficiaries; i.e., the Uniformed Services Treatment Facility (USTF) gets a fixed,
x

prospective payment per beneficiary from DoD to cover the beneficiary’s medical
care costs for a specific period of time. Capitation payments are based on
beneficiaries’ age; sex; and, in some sites, on health status as measured by prior
health service use.

Demonstration
The TRICARE Management Activity randomly selected three sites to participate
in the demonstration: PacMed, Bayley Seton, and Brighton Marine. The
demonstration was to begin on October 1, 1999, and continue for two years.
Continuous open enrollment began on January 1, 2000, at Bayley Seton; on
March 1, 2000, at PacMed; and on April 1, 2000, at Brighton Marine.

Methods
To assess the likely impact of continuous open enrollment on beneficiaries, DoD,
and other stakeholders, we conducted interviews with USFHP and DoD staff and
other key participants involved in rate-setting negotiations; site visits at each
demonstration site; focus groups with enrolled and eligible non-enrolled
beneficiaries at each demonstration site; and analyses of administrative data on
enrollment patterns under the demonstration.

Findings

Consequences and Costs for Beneficiaries

• The continuous open enrollment policy had no apparent drawbacks for

beneficiaries.
• To date, we have found no evidence that the continuous open enrollment
policy increased enrollment in USFHP. However, this finding should not be
considered definitive, because of the design and duration of the
demonstration.
• For beneficiaries under age 65, we found that a de facto policy of continuous
open enrollment already exists, because beneficiaries may enroll in TRICARE
Prime at any time and then transfer to USFHP at any time. Providing direct
access to USFHP via continuous open enrollment would reduce the
administrative burden on beneficiaries wishing to enroll.
 xi

• We found evidence that, in the absence of continuous open enrollment, some

Medicare-eligible beneficiaries spend periods without supplemental
insurance (i.e., Medigap) or purchase relatively expensive private Medigap
coverage while waiting to enroll in USFHP. The continuous open enrollment
policy improves access to USFHP and makes such situations less likely. This
benefit will increase in the likely event that Medicare HMOs discontinue
operations or restrict new enrollment in USFHP service areas.
• The relative value of continuous open enrollment for Medicare-eligible
beneficiaries is likely to decline with the introduction of the new health
insurance benefits under the FY2001 Defense Authorization Act.

Consequences and Costs for DoD

• Data and design limitations, along with other contemporaneous network

expansions at several of the demonstration sites, prevented us from making
reliable and valid predictions of the effects of the continuous open
enrollment policy on overall enrollment and on the distribution of health
risks in USFHP.
• DoD expressed concern that continuous open enrollment would promote
adverse selection. We expect that the financial risk to DoD of such enrollment
is likely to be minor, mainly because the current system of calculating
capitation rates places most risk from adverse selection on USFHP. (We were
unable to conduct an empirical evaluation of adverse selection during the
demonstration because of data limitations.)
• The continuous open enrollment policy may ultimately produce a net
increase in USFHP enrollment. In particular, the relative generosity of
USFHP benefits, combined with more-comprehensive marketing efforts
made feasible by continuous open enrollment, may increase enrollment in
areas where awareness of the program has been low.
• The new health insurance benefits for Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries
are likely to reduce substantially the relative value of USFHP for that
population, and thereby the net cost of continuous open enrollment to DoD.
The magnitude of these effects will depend on the details of how the new
benefits are structured.
xii

Recommendations
We recommend that continuous open enrollment be extended to all USFHP sites
on a permanent basis, conditional on this policy being acceptable to the USFHP
programs themselves. Short of this result, we recommend that the enrollment
policies of USFHP match those of TRICARE Prime for beneficiaries who are
eligible for both programs.
 xiii

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Susan Hosek, Jeffrey Wasserman, and Dave Kennel for their
comments on an earlier draft, Sydne Newberry for editorial advice, and Kristine
Leiphart for research assistance.
 1

1. Introduction

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 established the
authority for a demonstration program under which covered beneficiaries were
to be permitted to enroll in the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan (USFHP)
at any time. We refer to this as “continuous open enrollment.”1 Congress
directed that the Department of Defense (DoD) test the feasibility and
advisability of providing continuous open enrollment for a two-year period at a
minimum of two (out of seven) USFHP sites; submit a report to Congress by
March 15, 2001, evaluating the benefits and costs of the program; and make a
recommendation concerning whether to authorize continuous open enrollment at
all USFHP sites on a permanent basis. The demonstration was scheduled to
begin on October 1, 1999, and end on September 30, 2001.

The FY2001 Defense Authorization Act substantially expanded the DoD health
insurance benefits available to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, including
coverage for prescription drugs via the National Mail Order Pharmacy and
TRICARE eligibility for all military retirees and their dependents regardless of
age. The act significantly changes the policy context in which this demonstration
takes place. Although little detail was available by the deadline for this report
regarding how the new benefits will be implemented, we examined the text of
the legislation and conducted informal conversations with TRICARE
Management Activity (TMA) staff about the likely nature of the new benefits.
This information guided our interpretation of the findings of this evaluation,
where appropriate.

Section 2 of this report provides background on the USFHP program and

describes the continuous open enrollment demonstration. Section 3 describes the
goals of this evaluation, and Section 4 describes the methods we used to meet
these goals. Section 5 describes our evaluation results. Section 6 presents our
conclusions and recommendations, as well as the limitations of the study.

________________
1In this report, “beneficiaries” refers to individuals who are eligible to participate in TRICARE or

USFHP by virtue of serving or having served in the United States military, and their dependents.
2

2. Background

USFHP Program Overview

Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, 10 of the 35 Public Health
Service hospitals operating at that time were transferred to local, nonprofit
private ownership and became Uniformed Services Treatment Facilities (USTFs)
under contract to DoD. Of these 10 facilities, one was subsequently sold and is
no longer a USTF, and three merged into one. There are currently seven
independent programs, each serving a specific geographic service area:

• USFHP—Johns Hopkins Medical Services Corporation, based in Baltimore,

MD, and serving the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland
• USFHP—Brighton Marine Health Center, based in Boston, MA, and serving
parts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire
• USFHP—CHRISTUS Health, based in Houston, TX, and serving parts of
Texas and Louisiana
• USFHP—Sisters of Charity Medical Center at Bayley Seton, based in Staten
Island, NY, and serving parts of New York and all of New Jersey
• USFHP—PacMed Clinics, based in Seattle, WA, and serving parts of
Washington
• USFHP—Martin’s Point Health Care, based in Portland, ME, and serving
Maine
• USFHP—Fairview Health System, based in Cleveland, OH, and serving
parts of Ohio.

The USFHP sites are designated providers of the TRICARE Prime program.

TRICARE is the health care program for active-duty members of the uniformed
services and their dependents, retired military personnel and their dependents,
and surviving dependents of military personnel. For eligible beneficiaries, the
TRICARE program offers a triple-option health care plan: (1) TRICARE Prime,
which integrates military treatment facilities (MTFs) and civilian health care into
a single, managed delivery system; (2) TRICARE Standard, a fee-for-service
option in which beneficiaries can choose to receive care from most civilian
physicians; and (3) TRICARE Extra, which is similar to TRICARE Standard but
 3

offers discounts to patients when they use TRICARE network providers. To

participate in TRICARE Prime, beneficiaries enroll for a one-year period. There
is no enrollment requirement for TRICARE Standard or Extra.1

With the exception of active-duty personnel, military beneficiaries living in the

geographic service area of one of the USFHP sites are eligible to enroll in and
receive care from USFHP. The eligible population thus includes military retirees
and their covered dependents, and dependents of active-duty personnel,
regardless of age. UFHP is the only TRICARE option available to Medicare-
eligible retirees.

Each program provides a full range of inpatient and outpatient medical services
as well as prescription drugs. Covered benefits for all enrollees are, at a
minimum, the same as those covered by TRICARE Prime. For Medicare-eligible
enrollees, USFHP thus covers some services that Medicare does not, particularly
prescription drugs and preventive services.

USFHP sites are organized as health maintenance organizations (HMOs), using

managed-care practices commonly associated with HMOs (e.g., medical care is
coordinated by primary care providers, with additional utilization review for
inpatient care). USFHP receives capitated payments from DoD for enrolled
military beneficiaries. Under capitated payment, the USTF receives a fixed,
prospective payment per beneficiary from DoD to cover the beneficiary’s medical
care costs for a specific period of time; this payment does not change regardless
of what actual costs turn out to be. Historically, capitation payments were based
solely on beneficiaries’ age and sex. Following the FY1998 National Defense
Authorization Act, capitation payments are also now required to take
beneficiaries’ health status into account. DoD payments to USFHP are discussed
in additional detail below.

Medical care under USFHP is provided by a mix of clinicians, some of whom are
USFHP employees and others of whom are independent clinicians with USFHP
contracts. Similarly, care is provided in a mix of USFHP-owned facilities (i.e.,
hospitals and clinics) and independent facilities with USFHP contracts.
Prescription drugs are dispensed via a mix of USFHP-owned pharmacies and
independent pharmacies with USFHP contracts. In each case, the mix varies by
site.

USFHP enrollment precludes beneficiaries from receiving any medical care from
MTFs, other TRICARE Prime providers, or under the TRICARE Standard or

________________
1Source: http://www.tricare.osd.mil/tricare/news/faqs.htm.
4

Extra options. In addition, Medicare-eligible enrollees are instructed that any use
of their Medicare benefits during their USFHP enrollment is grounds for
terminating their enrollment in USFHP. Beneficiaries whose enrollment is
terminated are prohibited from re-enrolling for one year.

In addition to serving military beneficiaries, some USFHP sites serve other

populations. These activities are outside the scope of the demonstration and our
evaluation, and we do not discuss them further in this report.

USFHP Payment Process

Overview

USFHP was specifically designated in the DoD budget through FY1996. Since
then, the USFHP program has been covered by the general DoD health budget.
The contracts of each USFHP site stipulate that DoD must approve all enrollment
in USFHP to ensure that expenditures do not exceed funding levels. Overall
enrollment in USFHP, across all sites, cannot grow by more than 10 percent per
year, excluding dependents of active-duty personnel. However, the USFHP
program has never hit this cap.2

USFHP capitation payments are negotiated bilaterally with DoD through five-
year, sole-source contracts called “individual participation agreements.”

Rate Setting

With the exception of Johns Hopkins,3 capitation payments for the six other
USFHP sites are calculated in a roughly similar fashion, with separate rates for
enrollees under and over age 65.4 Payments for enrollees under age 65 are based
on average military health system (MHS) costs per beneficiary, within gender
and age cells. These costs are calculated as the sum of third-party claims, direct
care, administration, medical education, and resource sharing costs generated by
MHS users in each cell, divided by the number of “reliants” in the cell, where
reliance on the MHS is measured through surveys of the MHS-eligible

________________
2Norbert Meister, personal communication, August 28, 2000.
3The Johns Hopkins contract differs because it is located in Baltimore, Maryland, an all-payer-
rate state.
4Rate-setting formulas are specified in Section C10 in each of the seven contracts.
 5

population.5 Payments are calculated for 28 cells based on seven age categories
and gender, and they are adjusted for geographic variations in costs according to
a formula based on the regional cost of the Federal Employees Health Benefit
Program, the Medicare Prospective Payment System, and the Resource Based
Relative Value Scale.

The payments for Medicare-eligible enrollees are divided into two parts.
Payments for Medicare-covered services are based on the Adjusted Average Per
Capita Cost (AAPCC) rate for the appropriate age, gender, and county cell. The
AAPCC rates are inflated (roughly equal to the AAPCC/.95) to reflect changes
over time in the method used by the Health Care Financing Administration
(HCFA) to calculate AAPCCs and the fact that USFHP sites do not actually have
Medicare Risk Contracts. AAPCC-based payments make up roughly 85 percent
of total payments for Medicare-eligible enrollees. The other 15 percent represent
the cost of the pharmaceutical benefit and preventive services not otherwise
covered by Medicare and thus are “new” government expenditures.

Although each of the six contracts (i.e., excluding Johns Hopkins) follows the
same basic structure, individual sites have negotiated special provisions to
account for factors, such as regional geography or use patterns, that affect the
cost of providing care at the local level.

Risk Adjustment

Current contracts with Martin’s Point, CHRISTUS Health, Brighton Marine, and
PacMed have health status adjuster clauses that are specific to the Medicare-
eligible enrollees. These sites have been able to prove to DoD’s satisfaction that
they are being adversely selected based on ambulatory care group (ACG)
methods,6 which compare the distribution of diagnosed morbidity of USFHP
enrollees and a 5 percent sample of Medicare beneficiaries, respectively.7 Johns
Hopkins has not negotiated risk-adjusted payments, and Bayley Seton was not
able to supply the necessary data because of disruptions suffered in the wake of
the insolvency of its provider network administrator.

Methods used for risk-adjusting USFHP payments are unrelated to those

currently being phased in by Medicare for paying managed-care plans, although

________________
5Several study participants expressed concern that the methodology used to measure reliance

overstated the number of “reliants” in a service area, with the effect of reducing the resulting
capitation payment.
6The ACG risk adjustment system was developed by Jonathan Weiner and colleagues at Johns

Hopkins University; see http://acg.jhsph.edu/.

7Adverse selection in this case means that USFHP enrollees are sicker, on average, than their

eligible counterparts who do not enroll in USFHP and on whom the capitation rates are based.
6

the USFHP contracts specify that DoD will take risk adjustment into account in
calculating USFHP rates when HCFA uses it to calculate the AAPCCs. However,
the choice of risk-adjustment methodology may become an issue in future
negotiations.

Enrollment Policies

Current Policy

Dependents of active-duty personnel can enroll in USFHP at any time; they are
thus outside the scope of the demonstration and our evaluation, and we do not
discuss them further in this report.

Military retirees and their dependents who live in a USFHP service area have
had the option of enrolling in USFHP during a designated 30-day period in the
spring of each year; the exact period varies by site. Enrollment is for a 12-month
period. There are several exceptions to these policies:

• Newly retired beneficiaries and their dependents who live in a USFHP

service area may enroll in USFHP at the time of retirement.
• Eligible beneficiaries moving from an area without a USFHP program to a
USFHP service area may enroll in USFHP when they move.
• Enrollees in one USFHP site who move to the service area of another USFHP
site may transfer enrollment between sites, and non-Medicare-eligible
USFHP enrollees who move to an area with no USFHP program may transfer
to TRICARE Prime. This is referred to as “portability.”
• USFHP enrollees who move outside the service area may transfer to
TRICARE Prime at any time. If they travel temporarily (e.g., if they are
snowbirds), they may transfer back to USFHP one time during the year.
• Eligible beneficiaries who are enrolled in TRICARE Prime, whether through
a managed-care support contractor or through an MTF, may currently
transfer to USFHP at any time. This is referred to as “transferability.” Such a
transfer is permitted once per year.

The last exception is particularly relevant for this evaluation. In particular,

current DoD policies permit eligible retired beneficiaries and their dependents to
enroll in TRICARE Prime at any time, and then to transfer to USFHP. This
creates a de facto, indirect policy of continuous open enrollment in USFHP for
beneficiaries who are eligible for TRICARE Prime.
 7

Continuous Open Enrollment Demonstration

Starting in 1998, the USFHP sites independently and collectively asked TMA to
permit retired beneficiaries and their dependents to enroll in USFHP at any time,
as the dependents of active-duty personnel were permitted to do.8 The stated
motivation for this request was to make USFHP more competitive with
TRICARE Prime. In particular, this would affect retired beneficiaries and their
dependents who were permitted to enroll in TRICARE Prime at any time but
could enroll in USFHP only during the designated one-month open enrollment
period (at the time of this request, the policy of “transferability” had not yet been
instituted).

USFHP personnel expressed concern that the existing policy of annual open
enrollment put USFHP at a competitive disadvantage with respect to TRICARE
Prime, for several reasons. First, newly eligible beneficiaries who delayed
enrolling because they were unfamiliar with USFHP would need to wait a year
for the next opportunity to enroll. Second, like USFHP, TRICARE Prime requires
a 12-month enrollment commitment, and, in general, the benefit year for
TRICARE Prime enrollees would not align with USFHP’s enrollment cycle. As a
result, TRICARE Prime enrollees who wished to enroll in USFHP would face a
period between the end of a TRICARE Prime benefit year and the next USFHP
enrollment period during which they would not be enrolled in either plan
(although they could receive care through TRICARE Standard or Extra during
this period).

USFHP’s 1998 request for continuous open enrollment represented a reversal of

its previous position, which USFHP personnel acknowledged in their
correspondence. In particular, in the course of prior contract negotiations,
USFHP had rejected such a policy when it was proposed by DoD.

Later in 1998, TMA rejected USFHP’s request to change the enrollment policy. 9
The stated motivation for this denial was concern that continuous open
enrollment would expose DoD to increased costs because of adverse selection
(i.e., an enrollment pattern in which beneficiaries who enrolled due to the
continuous open enrollment policy were sicker, on average, than those who
would otherwise have enrolled), especially by Medicare-eligible beneficiaries

________________
8For instance, in letters from Stephen Weiner (on behalf of Brighton Marine) to Diane Harler

(Contracting Officer, Defense Supply Service), dated June 8, 1998; from Tita Montero (USFHP
Director, PacMed) to JoAnna Black (TRICARE Northwest), dated June 12, 1998; David Howes
(Program Director, Martin’s Point) to Earl Hanson (Contracting Officer Representative, TMA), dated
June 12, 1998; and Mark Skulnick (VP of Finance, Sisters of Charity) to Diane Harler, dated June 15,
1999.
9For instance, in letters from Diane Harler to David Howes, dated October 9, 1998; and from

Diane Harler to Mark Skulnick, dated October 9, 1998.

8

who would not otherwise be eligible for DoD health insurance benefits. DoD
personnel expressed concern that adverse selection would increase DoD costs
because of the recently instituted policy of accounting for beneficiaries’ health
status. DoD personnel pointed out that DoD’s original request for continuous
open enrollment had been made prior to the adoption of this risk-adjustment
policy and that USFHP’s rejection of continuous open enrollment at that time
was based on concern about adverse selection.

Congress subsequently passed the National Defense Authorization Act for

FY2000, which authorized a demonstration of continuous open enrollment in at
least two USFHP sites. USFHP personnel requested that all seven sites be
permitted to implement continuous open enrollment under the demonstration,
with the stated motivation being that differences across sites would make
findings difficult to generalize to other sites.10 Ultimately, TMA randomly
selected three sites to participate in the demonstration: PacMed, Bayley Seton,
and Brighton Marine.

The demonstration was to begin on October 1, 1999. In practice, continuous open

enrollment began on January 1, 2000, at Bayley Seton;11 on March 1, 2000, at
PacMed;12 and on April 1, 2000, at Brighton Marine.13 In the absence of the
demonstration, these sites would have conducted the following open enrollment
periods:

• Bayley Seton: July, effective August 1

• Brighton Marine: April, effective June 1
• PacMed: February, effective April 1.

During the remaining 11 months of the year, waiting lists would have been
maintained with the names of eligible beneficiaries expressing interest in the
program.

________________
10See correspondence from Stephen Weiner (on behalf of the seven USFHP sites) to Charles

Abell (Senate Armed Services Committee), dated June 30, 1999; and from the seven USFHP Program
Directors to James Sears (Executive Director, TMA), dated October 4, 1999.
11Eric Feldman, personal communication, October 4, 2000.
12Tita Montero, personal communication, September 27, 2000.
13David Chicoine, personal communication, September 27, 2000.
 9

3. Purpose of Evaluation

According to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2000, the evaluation
of the demonstration “shall include, at a minimum, an evaluation of the benefits
of the open enrollment opportunity to covered beneficiaries and a
recommendation concerning whether to authorize open enrollments in the
managed-care plans of designated providers permanently.” Given this broad
mandate, we focused this report on the following issues:

• Are there benefits to continuous open enrollment for beneficiaries? Are there
drawbacks?
• Does continuous open enrollment change overall enrollment in USFHP or
the distribution of demographic and health characteristics among enrollees?
• Would continuous open enrollment have cost implications for beneficiaries,
USFHP, the Department of Defense, or the federal government?
• What are the pros and cons of making the demonstration national and
permanent? How might the program differ if it were made permanent?

As mentioned above, we interpret our findings in the context of the new health
benefits included in the FY2001 Defense Authorization Act, as appropriate.
10

4. Methods

Secondary Data on USFHP Sites

As a starting point, we reviewed several types of materials on the demonstration
sites and, as appropriate, on other USFHP sites. First, we obtained program
descriptions and sample enrollment materials from each of the three
demonstration sites. We also reviewed the Internet web sites for the
demonstration sites (available via links from www.usfhp.org) and for the other
four USFHP sites. We used these materials to get a basic descriptive
understanding of the USFHP programs before our site visits and interviews with
USFHP and DoD personnel.

Second, we obtained the actual contracts between DoD and the three
demonstration sites. Although these contracts provided valuable information on
the financial relationship between DoD and the USFHP, we were particularly
interested in assessing the distribution of financial risks to the respective parties
from possible adverse selection that were due to the demonstration (i.e., whether
the continuous open enrollment policy led particularly sick beneficiaries to enroll
who otherwise would have enrolled later or not at all). We discuss this issue in
greater detail below. The contracts appeared to be complete, save for the
methodology for calculating capitation rates. We received separate memoranda
from Kennell and Associates (actuarial consultant to TMA) describing the
methodology used to calculate capitation rates, including information on the
mechanisms used for adjusting capitation rates to reflect enrollees’ health status.

Next, we obtained information on Medicare HMO plans (Medicare Choice) in

each of the three demonstration sites. We used these materials to assess the
range of insurance choices available to Medicare-eligible military beneficiaries in
the demonstration sites. No comparable, comprehensive information was
available on the insurance choices that might have been available to military
beneficiaries below age 65. However, we obtained information on the
availability of MTF care and TRICARE Prime, at MTFs and via managed-care
support contractors.
 11

Interviews
We conducted interviews with the following key individuals:

• Earl Hanson, contracting officer representative, TMA

• David Kennell, Kennell and Associates (actuarial consultant to TMA)
• Tita Montero, director, PacMed
• Eric Feldman, acting director, Bayley Seton
• David Chicoine, director, Brighton Marine
• Norbert Meister, USFHP program coordinator.

We used these interviews to learn about the history of the USFHP program
generally and of the enrollment policy in particular, the nature of the
relationships between DoD and USFHP, the pros and cons of the continuous
open enrollment policy from the perspective of the various interview subjects,
and any other issues the interview subjects thought would help us conduct the
evaluation.

In addition, we attended the quarterly meeting of the USFHP site directors on

September 21, 2000, in Washington, DC. The site directors of all USFHP sites
were present, as were additional staff from each site. Since available resources
did not permit us to conduct site visits at the non-demonstration sites, this
meeting was our main opportunity to speak with key personnel from these sites.

Site Visits
We made visits to each of the three demonstration sites: Bayley Seton (August
17, 2000), Brighton Marine (August 18, 2000), and PacMed (August 22, 2000). At
each visit, we interviewed the USFHP program director and other staff
responsible for the administration of the program and toured selected USFHP
clinics. We did not seek to speak with patients or other USFHP enrollees on
these site visits.

We used these visits to learn about the history of the USFHP program at that site,
the current and historical organization of the site’s delivery system, descriptive
information about the site’s providers and enrollees, the nature of the
relationships between the site and USFHP, the pros and cons of the continuous
open enrollment policy from the perspective of the site visit participants, and any
other issues the interview subjects thought would help us conduct the
evaluation.
12

In addition, because eligible beneficiaries who choose to enroll in USFHP are

effectively agreeing to receive all their medical care from USFHP (since it
functions as an HMO, with a closed panel of providers), we were interested in
visiting selected clinics to get a qualitative picture of the environment where
enrollees receive care. In practice, we visited the clinic closest to the
administrative headquarters of each site, which we recognize might not be
representative of USFHP clinics overall.

Enrollment Data
To examine patterns of enrollment, we obtained data on USFHP enrollees from
the Iowa Foundation for Medical Care (a DoD contractor responsible for
maintaining these data and for collecting and processing USFHP claims and
encounter data) and on eligible beneficiaries from the Defense Enrollment
Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

At a conceptual level, enrollment due to the demonstration would consist of

beneficiaries enrolling who would not have enrolled under the other policy or
beneficiaries enrolling earlier or later than they would have otherwise.
Beneficiaries making such enrollment decisions cannot be individually identified,
because each beneficiary faces only one of the two enrollment policies at any
point in time. They could be identified implicitly in the context of a randomized
control trial, e.g., if half the eligible beneficiaries in a given site had been
randomly assigned the opportunity to enroll on a continuous basis, while the
other half could enroll only during one month per year.

In the absence of such randomization, we could compare eligible and newly

enrolled beneficiaries in demonstration and non-demonstration sites,
respectively. However, such analyses would need to be interpreted cautiously,
because the various USFHP sites appeared to differ in ways that we could not
account for in our evaluation, including organizational structure and the non-
DoD insurance alternatives available to DoD beneficiaries. Alternatively, we
could compare populations within a site before and after the onset of the
demonstration. This would also have a number of limitations, particularly if—as
we report below—other changes in the USFHP programs or the broader health
insurance environment were taking place concurrently with the demonstration.
In practice, we conducted both types of analyses to approximate the ideal
analyses, and we discuss their limitations in greater detail below.
 13

Focus Groups
We conducted focus groups in each of the three demonstration sites: Bayley
Seton (November 28–29, 2000), Brighton Marine (December 11–12, 2000), and
PacMed (December 5–6, 2000). Participants included USFHP enrollees and
eligible beneficiaries who were not currently enrolled. The focus group protocols
were designed to assess beneficiaries’ opinions about and satisfaction with
USFHP or their chosen alternative health plans, factors affecting their decision to
enroll or not enroll in USFHP, and their opinions and experiences with the
demonstration.

In addition to the focus groups, we discussed with TMA whether to conduct a

survey of eligible and enrolled beneficiaries to collect quantitative data on the
issues addressed qualitatively in the focus groups. Together with TMA, we
concluded that the project timeline and resources did not permit us to develop,
field, and analyze a survey that would add sufficient value beyond the other
evaluation activities.

Site Selection

We selected sites in the respective USFHP service areas based on the density of
recently enrolled beneficiaries within a 15-mile radius, the availability of
adequate facilities, and the ease with which participants could reach the chosen
location in rush hour traffic. To reflect both historical and more recent
enrollment patterns, we conducted one set of focus groups near Boston, MA (part
of the original Brighton Marine service area), and another set near Camden, NJ
(part of the recent expansion of the Bayley Seton service area). We conducted the
final set of focus groups between Seattle and Everett, WA, in the PacMed service
area.

Recruitment

We held separate sessions for beneficiaries over and under age 65 because of
differences in the set of health plan alternatives available to these respective
groups. In each of the three sites, we combined enrollees and eligible non-
enrollees in sessions for those under age 65. Because of DoD and USFHP’s
expressed concern about the possibility that continuous enrollment would
especially affect Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, we conducted separate sessions
for enrollees and eligibles age 65 and over at two of the three sites (because of the
small number of recently enrolled beneficiaries age 65 and over at our Brighton
Marine site, we pooled all Medicare-eligible participants in one group there).
Other documents randomly have
different content
quickly flapping the edge of its disk, to keep its level in the water
and to regulate its direction.
It frequently buries itself slightly under the mud, and if disturbed
obscures the water by stirring the mud, vanishing in the cloud thus
raised to hide itself again. It will allow a boat to pass over its place
of concealment, and may, if detected, be easily killed by a blow with
the end of an oar. Many are also caught in the seines of the
fishermen.
Their food consists of small mollusca, crustacea and such other
animals, alive or dead, as they can obtain.
 Regular Meeting, December 7th, 1863.
President in the Chair.
Present, ten members.
Donations to Cabinet:
Rock Salt, from the Upper Colorado River, by F. Ailing. Wood, from
near Carson City.
Dr. Cooper stated that he had received a communication from Mr.
P. P. Carpenter, of England, offering to describe any new species of
shells from the collections of the State Geological Survey or of the
Academy, and to publish the descriptions in its proceedings. The
Society accepted the proposition.
Two new sheets of the Proceedings were laid upon the table.
Regular Meeting, December 21st, 1863.
President in the Chair.
Present, seven members.
Messrs. Royal Fisk and R. L. D’Aumaile were elected resident
members.

Fig. 22. Ophisurus Californiensis—Garrett. [Described on p. 66 of this volume.]

 Annual Meeting, January 4th, 1864.
President in the Chair.
Fifteen members present.
E. Mathewson, Esq., of Martinez, was elected resident member.
The following is an abstract of the Annual Reports of the officers
of the Society, for the past year (1863):
The Financial Report of the Trustees was received and accepted.
During the year, $815.35 have been received from various sources,
besides the balance on hand from 1862, of $141.22; $903.75
expended; and $52.82 remains in the hands of the Treasurer.
The Librarian (Prof. Whitney) reported verbally, that about fifty
volumes have been added to the Library, mostly the publications of
other Societies; that some sets of Journals have been rendered
complete, by his own donations, and that the volumes of the
“American Journal of Science” have been bound.
The Curator of Mineralogy (Mr. Moore) reports, that the collection
is in nearly the same condition that it was at the commencement of
the last year, that but few additions have been made, and that the
work of cataloguing and classifying the specimens is in progress.
The Curator of Palæontology (Mr. Gabb) made no report.
The Curator of Botany (Dr. Kellogg) reports, that some additions
have been made; that the collections are not in good condition for
want of suitable cases, and recommends that new cases be
procured, and that a suite of the specimens described by members
of the Society be sent East, for comparison with specimens in those
herbariums to which we have no access.
 The Curator of Zoology (Dr. Cooper) made a verbal report, that he
has been absent the most of the year, and that the collection has not
materially changed since the last report, with the exception of an
interesting collection of Birds deposited by Mr. Holder.
The Curator of Conchology (Dr. Trask) reported verbally, that
about three hundred species of shells have been added to the
collection during the year. Also, that he had received from Mr.
Andrew Garrett, a collection of one hundred and fifteen species of
Hawaiian Fishes, for the Museum.
The Curator of Entomology (Dr. Behr) reported verbally, that there
have been no contributions, but that he will contribute from his own
collection, and other persons have expressed their desire to do
likewise, when the Society shall possess the means of
accommodating and preserving the specimens.
The officers of the preceding year were reëlected, with the
exception of Treasurer—S. Hubbard being elected in the place of
Wm. Heffley, resigned.
The following resolution, prepared by Dr. Ayres, was unanimously
adopted:

Resolved, That hereafter the Proceedings of the Academy be

distributed gratuitously only to resident members and to such
Societies and individuals as the Academy shall direct; and that the
price of subscription to others be regulated by the Publishing
Committee.

The Society authorized the publication of the following

Constitutional amendments, adopted at the annual meeting, January
6th, 1862, the publication of which was accidentally omitted in the
Proceedings of that year:

Amendment to Art. II, Sec. 4—That the Membership Fee, to be

paid by an applicant for Resident membership, shall be two dollars,
etc.—the remainder of the section remaining as before.
Amendment to Art. III, Sec. 2—This Association shall hold
meetings on the First and Third Monday evenings of each month, for
the investigation of Natural History, etc.—the remainder of the
section remaining as before.

Dr. Ayres read extracts from letters containing inquiries in regard

to the first volume of the Proceedings of the Society, which
terminated abruptly, and was never finished. The supply has long
been exhausted, and the republication has been frequently
discussed; but as yet this is beyond the means of the Society.
Prof. Brewer communicated the following paper by Prof. Gray,
giving the first installment of a series of descriptions of new plants
from the botanical collections made by himself, while engaged in the
State Geological Survey. These are a portion of the new species
collected previous to 1863. The remainder will be described in future
papers, along with those from the collection made after that time.

Descriptions of New Californian Plants—No. I.

BY PROF. ASA GRAY.

Streptanthus Nutt.

S. Breweri, n. sp. [§ Euclisia.]

Wholly glabrous and glaucous, annual, branched from near the

base; cauline leaves (except the lowest) strongly cordate-clasping,
with a closed sinus, entire or denticulate, the uppermost sagittate;
flowers purple, on very short ascending pedicels, the lowest often
leafy-bracted; the buds often a quarter of an inch long, obtuse, or
barely acute; the sepals with scarious but blunt recurved tips;
siliques narrowly linear, ascending or erect, straight or slightly
incurved (1½-2½ inches long, less than a line wide,) compressed
but torulose, the nerve of the valves obscure; seeds wholly
marginless.
This most resembles S. tortuosus Kellogg (which is S. cordatus
Torr., in Bot. Pacif. R. R. Whipple’s Rep. but evidently not of Nuttall),
from which the above character indicates the differences.
There are three forms in the collection: 1. A dwarf state, in flower
only, from Mt. Shasta, at an altitude of 8,000 feet. 2. A very
glaucous form, with more numerous and rather smaller flowers, and
with fruit, from the top of a dry mountain of the Mt. Diablo Range,
near head of Arroyo del Puerto, at an altitude of 3,200 feet. 3.
Another, in flower and fruit, with more naked and virgate branches,
a foot or two in height, from San Carlos Mountain, near New Idria,
5,000 feet altitude. This is remarkable for having the calyx hoary-
downy, but the plant is otherwise glabrous and glaucous.

S. hispidus, n. sp. (§ Euclisia.)

Very dwarf, (2-3 inches high, from an annual root,) hispid

throughout, even to the siliques; leaves cuneate or obovate-oblong,
coarsely toothed or incised, the cauline-sessile but hardly at all
clasping; raceme short and loosely flowered; pedicels spreading or
at length recurved in flower (which is red or red-violet) but the linear
compressed siliques (1½ inch long, a line wide,) are erect; stigma
almost sessile; immature seeds winged.
Mt. Diablo, dry places near summit.
This ranks next to S. heterophyllus.

Viola L.

V. ocellata, Torr. and Gray, var.

Glabrous, smaller; leaves somewhat thickish; peduncles

elongated. Very curious and distinct. From Tamalpais.
 Arenaria L.

A. brevifolia Nutt.? var. Californica.

Much branched or diffuse, cymosely many-flowered; petals and

sepals somewhat narrower.
Leaves as in Nuttall’s plant, thickish, plane, mostly obtuse and
spreading. Valves of the capsule entire. Filaments opposite and twice
the length of the sepals, more dilated and glandular at the base.
Seeds minute, minutely muricate, turgid. The fruit and seed are
known only from Frémont’s specimens communicated to Dr. Torrey
(No. 284 of Coll. 1846,) from California, a taller and less diffuse form
than that now collected by Prof. Brewer, and more like Nuttall’s, from
Tatnall County, Georgia. But my original specimen of the latter little-
known plant is too incomplete to make certain the identity; and the
two are widely sundered in geographical station. Still no adequate
characters yet appear to distinguish specifically. Prof. Brewer
collected his plant April 18th, in the valleys among high ridges in
Sonoma, where it abounded.

Calandrinia H. B. & K.

C. Menziesii, Hook.

In various forms in southern California. Capsule slightly if at all

exceeding the calyx; seeds rather turgid, shining; petals mostly
much exceeding the calyx.

C. Menziesii, var. macrocarpa.

Stems and racemes at length more elongated and loosely-leaved;

pedicels in fruit much spreading or recurved; capsule ovoid-fusiform,
projecting beyond the calyx; seeds smaller, compressed and opaque.
Dry hills of the Santa Inez mountains, near Santa Barbara.
 Perhaps a distinct species, but I want to see it confirmed by other
specimens.

Linum L.

L. Breweri, n. sp.

Annual; glabrous; stem very small, not striate, with few flowers
crowded at the apex; leaves filiform, smooth, alternate and
opposite; stipules conspicuously glandular; pedicels shorter than the
calyx; sepals oblong-ovate, acute, one-nerved, margin not scarious,
glandular, less than half as long as the bright yellow, obovate-oblong
petals; anthers elongated-oblong; sterile filaments almost wanting;
styles three, distinct; stigma somewhat acutely pointed.
Dry hill sides of the Diablo Range, near Marsh’s Ranch, May 29th.
Plant barely two to three inches high, “but seen in the valley
larger, with many flowers, not yet expanded.”
This, like L. Californicum, appears to be uniformly tri-carpellary;
flowers about the size of those of that species, and the anthers
elongated-oblong; but the leaves narrower; the stigmas not at all
capitate or enlarged, but minute and acute; fruit not seen.

Trifolium, L.

T. bifidum, n. sp.

Somewhat villose or glabrous; stems from small (annual?) root,

slender, spreading; stipules ovate-lanceolate, setaceously-acuminate,
entire; leaflets linear-cuneate, lateral ones rarely dentate, bifid or
incised at the apex with a mucronate point between the lobes;
peduncles twice or three times as long as the leaves; heads naked,
six to twelve flowered, or more; flowers pedicelled, at length
reflexed; calyx five-parted, dentate, subulate-setaceous, somewhat
hirsute, and nearly equal to the persistent, rose-colored scarious
corolla.
Near Marsh’s Ranch, between Monte Diablo and the San Joaquin,
among grass in a ravine near the water, May 29th.
Stems six to sixteen inches long. Heads and flowers about the size
of those of the small form of T. gracilentum, to which species it is
allied. Ovary two-ovulate, seeds single.

Astragalus L.

A. curtipes, n. sp. (§ Phaca, *Inflati.)

Minutely canescent, at length glabrate, a foot high; stipules

connate, opposite the leaf; leaflets twelve to sixteen pairs narrowly
oblong, retuse petiolulate, glabrous above; raceme in fruit short;
calyx-teeth slender, subulate, slightly shorter than the campanulate
tube; legume membranaceous, inflated, glabrate (1½ inches long,)
semi-ovoid, (the ventral suture nearly straight, the dorsal very
gibbous,) scarcely acute at either end, jointed to a rigid stipe, which
does not exceed the tube of the calyx.
Dry hill sides, San Luis Obispo. Corolla not seen.

A. oxyphysus, n. sp. (§ Phaca, *Inflati.)

Tall, very softly canescen-villous; stipules small, scarious, distinct;

leaflets 8-11 pairs, oblong; peduncles much surpassing the leaf;
raceme elongated; bracts small and subulate; teeth of the silky calyx
subulate, half the length of the cylindraceous tube; corolla white or
greenish; legume obovate-acuminate, the base attenuate into a
recurved stipe which somewhat exceeds the calyx.
Monte Diablo Range, near Arroyo Puerto, on dry hills.
A most distinct and striking new species.
 A. Breweri, n. sp.

Allied to A. tener Gray, Rev. Astrag. (Phaca astragalina, var.? Hook.

and Arn., and probably A. hypoglottis, var. strigosa, Kellogg,) but
more branched from the annual root, and with broader leaflets, (4-5
pairs, oblong-obcordate); head 5-7 flowered, compact; immature
legume globose-ovate, silky-canescent, not stipulate, erect, six-
ovulate, one-celled, the dorsal suture slightly intruded.
Fields in Sonoma Valley, April. Common.

Dr. Ayres read letters from Mr. A. Garrett, and presented the
following paper:

Descriptions of New Species of Fishes—No. II.

BY ANDREW GARRETT, OF HONOLULU, SANDWICH ISLANDS.

Cheilodactylus Lacep. 1803.

C. vittatus Garrett.

B. 6; D. 17-30; A. 3-8; V. 1-5; P. 8-6; C. 5, 1, 7, 6, 1, 4.

The height of the body is a trifle less than one-third of the total
length. The upper profile rises in a convex line from the snout to the
occipital region, whence it suddenly ascends in a nearly vertical
curve, giving that portion of the fish a strongly gibbous appearance.
The body rapidly tapers posteriorly, though preserving a slightly
convex outline. The head enters nearly four and a half times in the
entire length. The eyes are large, sub-circular in shape, even with
the line of profile, and their greatest diameter is nearly one-third the
length of the head. They are placed nearer the origin of the lateral
line than the end of the snout. The small maxillary bone extends as
far back as the anterior margin of the eye.
 The dorsal fin takes its origin immediately above the posterior limb
of the orbit and terminates within one diameter of the eye of the
caudal fin. Its three anterior rays are very small, and the fourth,
which is the tallest, is one-third as long as the base of the whole fin,
or equal to two-thirds the height of the body. Posteriorly the spiny
rays rapidly diminish in altitude so that the last one is shorter than
the succeeding soft rays. The soft portion of the fin is comparatively
low, gently convex along its upper edge, and is equally as long as
the spiny part. The anal fin is small, being inserted just in advance of
the middle of the soft portion of the dorsal. Its extreme margin is
slightly concave and the rays rapidly diminish in length posteriorly.
The ventrals when laid back reach as far as the anal fin. The second
simple pectoral ray extends as far back as the vent. The caudal,
which is deeply forked, has its lobes rounded off.
Color greyish-silvery, and ornamented with five oblique blackish-
brown bands which are disposed as follows: one extends from the
snout to the preopercular margin, the second starts from the eye
and terminates on the pectoral base, the third, which passes over
the occipital region, extends below the pectoral axilla; the fourth,
which is much broader, starts from the origin of the dorsal fin,
curves downward and backward, becoming wider in its descent, and
passes beneath the abdomen; the fifth one commences on the
upper anterior half of the spiny dorsal, extending along the back to
near the termination of that fin. Three irregular, pale spots may be
observed in the dorsal band, and three large blackish-brown spots
on the caudal trunk. The opercular flap and snout tinged with
orange-red. The interorbital space is marked with two transverse
brownish-red bands. Irides yellowish-silvery. That portion of the
dorsal fin anterior to the fifth band is white, the remainder, together
with the anal and caudal, light-yellowish, the latter tipped with
blackish-brown. The pectorals are orange-red, and the ventrals are
deep blackish-brown.
Length, 7 inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
 Remarks.—An extremely rare fish, of which the solitary specimen
now before me is the only example that has come to my notice. It is
the more interesting in a geographical point of view, as being the
only species—as near as I can ascertain—recorded from the
Polynesian Seas. Sir John Richardson, in his interesting “Notices of
Australian Fish,” published in the “Proceedings of the Zoological
Society of London,” describes, and gives a list of thirteen species.
Nine of those occur in the Australian Seas, one from China and
Japan, two from the Cape of Good Hope, and one from Tristan
d’Acunha. In the number and arrangement of the fasciae, our fish
closely resembles the C. gibbosus, Sol., (Chætodon) from Van
Diemen’s Land. The latter species is less gibbous, the eyes smaller,
the soft portion of the dorsal fin shorter, and the caudal forks are
more pointed than in the C. vittatus.

Apogon Lacep. 1802.

A. maculiferus, Garrett.

B. 7; D. 7-1-9; A. 2-8 V. 1-5; P. 13; C. 4, 1, 8, 7, 1, 3.

The upper profile of the head is slightly concave; otherwise the
general shape of the fish closely resembles the Apogon fraenatus,
Val. The greatest depth of the body, taken at the commencement of
the anterior dorsal fin, equals the length of the head, or two-
sevenths of the entire length of the fish. The eye is large, sub-
circular in shape, even with the upper line of profile, and its
diameter nearly one-third as long as the head. The upper jaw is
slightly the longest, and the hinder termination of the maxillary is on
a line with the posterior border of the pupil. The margin of the
preopercle is finely and regularly dentated, and its anterior crest or
ridge exhibits but few irregular teeth. The lateral line may be traced
over twenty-four scales.
The first and second dorsal fin are of equal length along their
base, both being higher than long, and the altitude of the latter,
which exceeds that of the former, is, as compared to the entire
length of the fish, one to five. The anal fin is inserted a trifle more
posterior than the fin above. The large ventrals, when laid back,
cover the vent with their tips. The caudal is sub-bifurcate.
Color brilliant silvery, with an iridescent reflection in which
carnation predominates. The upper two-thirds of the body is
ornamented with longitudinal rows of small olivaceous spots, one on
each scale, and those above the lateral line more or less coalescing,
forming broken bands. The head, which is more or less tinged with
diluted carmine-red, is marked by a diffuse olivaceous band, which
extends from the end of the snout, passing through the eye and
terminating on the opercle. Irides silvery white; cornea black. The
membranes of all the fins are tinged with orange-yellow, and their
rays are red.
Length, 5½ inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Vernacular, “Upapalu.”
Remarks.—The longitudinal series of maculations will readily
determine this species. Under the lens the spots assume the
appearance of clusters of minute dots, some of which have blue
central points.

Scorpæna Artedi, (L.)

S. parvipinnis, Garrett.

D. 13·10; A. 3-5; V. 1-5; P. 7-9; C. 5, 1, 6, 5, 1, 3.

In this species the upper and lower outlines are quite similar,
being gently arched. The greatest depth of the body falls slightly
short of one-third of the total length, and the greatest thickness at
the base of the head, is a little more than two-thirds of the above
mentioned depth. The head constitutes just one-third of the whole
fish. The eye is large, circular, its diameter being nearly one-fourth
of the length of the head. Four spines may be seen along the upper
edge of the orbit, and the same number on each side of the occipital
region and nape, the posterior one the larger. Two intraorbital
spines, one on the nasal bone, and a longitudinal row of four along
the supratympanic region. Two on the opercle, the lower one long
and projecting posterior to the margin of that bone. A stout one may
be observed on the humeral region, one on the infra-orbital, three
on the margin of the preopercle, and a longitudinal row of irregularly
disposed ones along the cheek. The lower jaw is slightly longer than
the upper, and the tip of the maxillary extends as far back as the
hinder border of the eye. Fine scales envelop the basal portions of
all the fins except the ventrals, and cover all parts of the head
except the jaws and the lower half of the maxillary bone. Minute
filaments are observed on all parts of the fish, being more numerous
on the upper anterior third of the body. The dorsal and anal fins are
small, the former commencing above the origin of the latter line.
The spiny portion of the dorsal is very low, gently arched, and
constitutes nearly two-thirds of the fin. The soft portion of the anal
fin is very narrow and rounded off.
The head and anterior half of the body is greyish, passing into
light carnation beneath, and obscurely clouded with dusky. The
posterior half of the body is dusky black, which fades into pink
beneath, maculated with small darker spots. Caudal trunk, pink. Two
large dusky black spots on the anterior dorsal region. Irides
greenish-yellow. Fins pinky-red, the spiny dorsal mottled with dusky,
and the other fins dotted with pinky-brown, and a bar of the same
color on the caudal base.
Length, 4 inches.
Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—The scaly head, small dorsal and anal fin will readily
distinguish this beautiful species.

Crenilabrus, Cuv.
 C. modestus, Garrett.

B. 6; D. 12-10; A. 3-12; V. 1-5; P. 17; C. 2, 1, 6, 6, 1, 2.

The greatest depth, which occurs beneath the origin of the dorsal
fin, is about one-fourth of the total length, and the greatest
thickness is just half of the above mentioned depth. The head, which
comprises a little more than one-fourth of the whole fish, presents a
slight concave depression above the eyes. The preopercular
serrations are very small. The eyes are sub-circular, their greatest
diameter entering nearly six times in the length of the head, and
twice in advance of their own orbit. The hinder tip of the maxillary
reaches a vertical, passing through the center of the eye. Twelve
longitudinal rows of scales may be enumerated between the lateral
line and the vent, ten rows on the side of the caudal trunk, and the
median longitudinal row on the body contains thirty scales. The
lateral line, which passes over thirty-three scales, consists of slightly
branched tubes.
The dorsal fin extends over a base equal to half the length of the
fish, caudal fin excluded. Its soft portion falls slightly short of one-
third of the whole fin. The anal fin, which is nearly half as long as
the dorsal, has its hinder termination slightly more posterior. The
acuminately pointed ventrals, when closely appressed to the
abdomen nearly reach the anal fin. The large caudal has its posterior
upper and lower angles considerably prolonged and pointed.
Color purplish-brown, passing into bluish grey beneath, and
obsoletely lineated longitudinally with darker. A large oblong pale
diffuse spot beneath the posterior end of the dorsal fin, which is
directed obliquely downward and forward. Irides silvery, tinged with
yellow. The dorsal fin is pale greyish, marked anteriorly with a large
diffuse blue-black spot, its soft portion being tinged with reddish and
margined above with yellow. The anal, ventrals and caudal are
bluish-grey, the former posteriorly tinged with faded red and edged
with yellow. Pectorals nearly colorless.
Length, 18 inches.
 Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—We have obtained only two individuals of this large
species, both of which were exposed for sale in the Honolulu fish-
market. The colors, which are no doubt considerably changed, were
taken from the dead fish.

Chironectes Cuv. 1817.

C. niger, Garrett.

D. 3-12; A. 6; V. 5; P. 10; C. 1, 7. 1.
The head constitutes about one-third of the total length, caudal
excluded. The eyes are elliptically-oval, and inserted just once their
greatest diameter distant from the margin of the upper jaw. The skin
is covered with fine closely set prickly asperities, which gives it a
velvety appearance. The general outline is ovate, and the greatest
thickness equals one-sixth of the entire length. A range of
conspicuous pores commences on the upper part of the gill covers,
curving downward and upward to the symphysis of the lower jaw.
Another row follows the margin of the upper jaw, passing over the
snout, where it branches off posteriorly, curving over the eye and
disappearing on the posterior portion of the body. Each pore is
encircled with brush-like appendages, which gives them a tufted
appearance. The dorsal fin extends over a base equal to one-third
the length of the fish. Its upper margin is arched, and its height as
compared to length is as one to two. The height and length of the
anal fin are about equal.
Color deep black and obsoletely maculated with rather small
roundish darker spots. On the basal portion of the dorsal and anal
fins may be observed two large ocellations, with deep black pupils
and paler areolae. Very minute opaque white points may also be
seen scattered along the lower parts. Eyes blackish.
Length, 3½ inches.
 Habitat, Sandwich Islands.
Remarks.—This species possesses the nasal tufted bristle and two
horn-like processes that we observe in all the species inhabiting
these seas. When handled it emits a most disagreeable odor.

Dr. J. G. Cooper presented the following paper:

 On New Genera and Species of Californian Fishes—No. III.
BY J. G. COOPER, M. D.

Myxodes Cuvier, 1817.

M. elegans, Cooper, State Collection, No. 707. [Fig. 23.]

Fig. 23.

Specific characters.—Form elongated, high and narrow, the head wider than the thickest part of
body. Length of snout equal to diameter of eye, lower jaw very slightly longest. Total length a little
more than four and a half times that of head, which is equal to the greatest height of body. Head
moderately arched, rounded above, the width between eyes a little less than the width of orbit. Orbit
circular, contained four and a half times in length of head. Anterior lobe of dorsal commencing just
behind head, triangular, one-twentieth of the length of fin, equal to the middle lobe in height; middle
lobe gradually arched, its spines more slender than those of the first lobe; posterior lobe with soft
rays only, about equal to the first, in size and form, extending nearly to the tail. Caudal fin
quadrangular, its end obtusely truncate, nearly twice as long as wide. Anal commencing opposite
seventeenth dorsal spine, nearly straight, its height one-fifth its length, and ending a little anterior to
end of dorsal. Ventrals narrow, the middle ray longest. Pectorals arising opposite third dorsal spine,
nearly as wide as long.
D. V-xxvii to xxx-8; C. 5-5; A. 26 to 28; V. 3; P. 11.
Scales in about 250 rows along middle of side, in 18/50-18/18 vertical rows along lateral line.
Proportional measurements:

Length of largest specimen, 4 in. 100.

Length of head .20
Height of pectoral .15
Length of dorsal .72
Length of caudal .12
Length of anal .44
Height of ventral .09
Height of body .22
Width of body .08

Colors.—Exceedingly variable, but the general pattern, as preserved in alcohol, consists of a series
of vertical bands, alternating with spots of various shapes and sizes, and often densely mottled with
dark and light blotches distributed regularly, but not describable. The fins have alternating bands,
and in all the specimens the membrane between the third and fourth dorsal spine is as clear as glass,
as if intended to be seen through, but probably shines in the water as a sort of signal. When fresh
the colors of those from San Diego were as follows: 1st, dark brown, a purple lateral stripe, sides
with dark and light brown bars, having silvery blotches between them; below yellowish, top and sides
of head blotched with yellow, a bright red ring with a green centre near pectorals, and another near
caudal. Dorsal with alternating bars of olive and yellow; pectoral yellow at base, its rays reddish,
barred with purple, ventrals and anal smoky.
Another was striped and cross-barred with brown, and mingled with this pattern were blotches of
olive-brown, yellowish and purple, but no rings. Fins marked like the body, but paler.
It is possible that the rings observed in the first one, and not seen in any other, were caused by
the growth of vegetable parasites, which are often found on fish of similar habits.
Remarks.—This is the first instance of a Myxodes being found on our coast north of the equator,
though a nearly allied genus, the Heterostichus, has been long known. I was in some doubt whether
to refer the fish to Myxodes on account of the meagre descriptions of the genus accessible, but
having sent a copy of the outline to Mr. Gill, I have been confirmed in the correctness of the
diagnosis. The following are some of the most important generic characters not shown in the outline
of our species:
Branchiæ VI-VI, the apertures freely connected below. Teeth uniserial in each jaw, those of lower
jaw largest, some of those along sides larger than the rest. No teeth on vomer. Scales minute, entire,
cycloid, closely adherent—none on head or fins.
The two-lobed form of the spinous dorsal does not apparently exist in some of the species.
Suspecting that some of the other characters will be found sufficient to distinguish it, I propose for it
provisionally the name Gibbonsia, in honor of Dr. W. P. Gibbons, of Alameda County, whose
descriptions of our viviparous fishes, published in 1854, by the Academy, have only of late been
awarded the credit they deserve.
These beautiful little fish are found at low water in holes among rocks along our coast south of
Point Conception, and at the adjoining islands. Their varied and elegant coloration would make them
beautiful objects for a marine aquarium, but I had nothing suitable for the purpose, in which I could
keep them alive long enough to study their habits.
I obtained three at Pt. Loma, San Diego, three at Catalina I., and two at Santa Barbara I., all
manifestly of the same species, though differing individually in color, as above mentioned. They have
no popular name.

Gillichtyhs, n. g.[8]

Generic characters.—Form moderately elongated, laterally compressed. Head depressed, broader

than body, forming more than one-fourth of total length. Eyes small, situated far forward, and
obliquely turned upward. Mouth moderate, its gape extending to the vertical of the posterior rim of
orbit, but the angle of lower jaw half way to branchial aperture. Upper maxillaries extending back the
same distance, thence prolonged by a cartilaginous expansion which reaches as far back as the
opercular opening, and being there connected to an expansion of the skin of the lower jaw, forms a
channel running back from the mouth and as long as the gape of the mouth itself. This channel is
entirely free from the side of head, but only slightly movable forwards, so that it cannot serve to
widen the mouth when opened.
Premaxillaries not protractile, movable at their symphysis, and only half as long as maxillaries, with
which they are connected by a thin membrane, ending below orbit.
Villiform teeth on premaxillaries throughout, also on lower maxillaries to angle of mouth, and on
pharyngeals; none on upper maxillaries, vomer or palate. A minute nasal aperture close behind
maxillary and another opening just in front of anterior rim of orbit.
Preoperculum covered by the skin of the head.
 Branchiæ four, all double, and free, opercular apertures small, as wide as base of pectorals, and
separated by the whole width of the base of head.
Tongue broad and thick. Air-bladder small, liver very large and alimentary canal short.
Scales small, cycloid and thin, imbedded in the skin so as to be scarcely perceptible anterior to
dorsal fin, or on back. None on ventral surface.
No lateral line perceptible. Dorsal fins two, situated far back, and rather large. Caudal small,
obtusely rounded. Anal opposite to second dorsal. Ventrals united into a funnel-shaped disk opposite
base of pectorals. Pectorals large and rounded. Fin rays all soft, dividing into three or four branches
toward their ends. A small “papilla genitalis” in front of anal fin.
Whole fish covered with thick mucous secretion. Skin of head rather loose and soft, and perfectly
smooth.

Gillichthys mirabilis Cooper, State Coll. No. 627. [Fig. 24.]

Fig. 24.

Specific characters. Scales along middle of side, about 90 in 27 rows.

D. 6-13; C. 13-13; A. 11; V. 6 + 6; P. 20.

Length of largest specimen obtained, 5¼ inches 100.

Distance from snout to orbit .06
Length of orbit .03
Snout to end of maxillary process .26
Snout to opercular aperture .27
Snout to first dorsal fin .36
Length of base of dorsal fin .15
Height of dorsal fin .10
From first to second dorsal .03
Length of base of second dorsal .19
Height of second dorsal .10
Length of caudal .16
Width of caudal .12
From caudal to second dorsal and anal .10
Length of base of anal .12
Height of anal .06
 From ventral to anal .26
Height of ventral anteriorly .02
Height of ventral posteriorly .08
Height of pectoral .14
Width of base of pectoral .08
Lower jaw to ventrals .27
Width of head between orbits .02
Width of head at opercula .15
Height of head at opercula .16
Width of body at first dorsal .12
Height of body at first dorsal .18
Width of caudal at base .02
Height of caudal at base .09
Distance between ends of maxillary processes .58

Colors.—When alive mottled with light and dark olive, paler below, sides of head reddish. In
alcohol black, pale below, and scales below middle of sides finely punctate each with 8-10 dots, only
visible under a microscope.
Hab.—I found these remarkable fish only in San Diego Bay, and in but one station, which was
among seaweed growing on small stones at the wharf of Newtown the military post, in November,
1861. They were left by the receding of the tide, and must have been out of the water from three to
six hours daily, though kept moist by the seaweed. The four obtained were all females containing
large masses of ova, and may have come to the spot in order to deposit them.
I could not obtain a glass vessel suitable for an aquarium, so as to keep them alive and observe
their habits. The use of the strange maxillary processes or channels is obscure, nothing analogous
being known in other fishes, the nearest approach to them being apparently the lengthened
maxillaries of some Salmonidæ and Clupeidæ, fish of entirely different habits and affinities, this one
being evidently one of the Gobidæ. The stomach contained small crabs, apparently swallowed whole.

Pteroplatea Müller and Henle, 1837.

P. marmorata, Cooper, State Collection, Species 674. [Fig. 25.]

Fig. 25.
 Specific characters.—Outline of disk rhomboidal, the anterior borders forming an obtuse angle in
front, nearly straight in their course to the lateral angles, which are sub-acute; the posterior borders
rounded.
Ventrals small, oblong, obtuse-angled, projecting a little behind the disk. Tail nearly twice the
length of ventrals, slender and pointed, flattened laterally behind the spine, and bordered by a very
narrow membrane, commencing opposite the end of the spine below, and ending a little farther back
above.
Spine arising at a point one-third the length of the tail from its base, one-sixteenth of its length,
and less than a fourth as wide as it is long.
Both surfaces are nearly flat.
Proportional measurements:

Total length of specimen, 9½ in. 100.

From median line to tip of pectoral .80
From anterior angle to eyes .13
From anterior angle to ventrals .70
Antero-posterior length of ventrals .10
Length of claspers .04
Length of tail beyond ventrals .25
Length of caudal spine .04
Distance between eyes .15

Colors.—Thickly marbled with blackish and grayish mottlings equal in size; ventrals and tail with a
few scattered white spots; below, white. It is probable that the colors are variable, as in the allied
Urolophus.
I was doubtful at first whether to consider this fish a Pteroplatea, as that genus is described by
Richardson as having the mouth curved, and the dental plate extending to its corners, also the teeth
lobed. These characters, however, may change with its growth, this being evidently a young
specimen. Mr. Gill, of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C., to whom I sent a figure of it,
agrees with me in referring it to this genus.
Compared with the P. Maclura (Lesueur), of the Atlantic coast, described and figured by Dekay in
the Nat. History of New York, this species is less wide in proportion to its length, the difference being
as 10 to 16. There is also some difference in the markings. The P. Maclura is said to attain the
enormous width of 18 feet.
I found but one specimen of this fish at San Diego, where it was caught in a seine. I have also
seen one, when the steamer was lying at anchor, at San Pedro, swimming near the surface of the
water, apparently supporting itself by flapping its wing-like expansions, while it progressed slowly by
lateral motions of its tail.
Note.—By an oversight of the printer, the proper references to the figures on page 110 were left
out. The reader will however understand from the descriptions that the right hand figure is the
Myxodes (Fig. 23), and the others the Gillichthys (Fig. 24).
Transcriber’s Note.—This oversight has been addressed! Illustrations were relabelled correctly and placed next to the text describing
them.

[8] Named in honor of Mr. Theodore Gill, of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D. C., the
author of various learned treatises on fishes; Ichthys, from the Greek for fish.
 Regular Meeting, January 18th, 1864.
President in the Chair.
Present twelve members, four visitors.
Donations to the Cabinet: Cone of Pinus pinea from the south of Europe, by Mr. Grosseillier. Bottle
of Scorpions and other insects, by Mr. Dawson. Jar of fruits, and cloth made by the natives of
Hilukukaki Island, by Capt. J. B. Edwards: A jar of alcoholic specimens from Rio Janeiro, one from
Panama, and one from Acapulco, by S. Hubbard. A specimen of Phasma from Manzanillo, Mex., by
Col. Heintzelman. A specimen of Gordius from this vicinity, by Mr. Keith. A box of cretaceous and
tertiary fossils from the Atlantic States, by the Smithsonian Institution.
Donations to the Library:
Correspondenzblatt des Naturforschenden Vereins zu Riga, 13ter Jahrgang; Riga 1863.
Verhandlungen der K. K. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, Band XII, Heft 1, 2, 3, 4, Wien
1862. Personen-Orts-und Sach-Register der Sitzungsberichte und Abhandlungen der Wiener K. K.,
Zool. bot. Gesellschaft, Wien 1862. Oversigt over det Kongelige danske Videnskabernes Selskabs
Forhandlinger Aaret 1861; 8vo. Kiöbenhavn. Der Zoologische Garten, IV Jahrgang, Nr. 1-6, 1863, 8vo.
Frankfurt a M. Proceedings of the Royal Horticultural Society, Vol. III, Nos. 6, 7, June and July, 1863.
Schriften der Königlichen physikalish-ökomischen Gesellschaft zu Königsberg, IIIter Jahrgang,
Abtheilungen 1, 2, 4to, 1862-3. Abhandlungen der K. K. geologischen Reichsanstalt, Band I-III & IV,
1-2, 3-4, 4to, Wien 1855-6. Jahrbuch der K. K. Reichsanstalt, Band XII 3, 4; XIII, 1, 8vo. Wien 1862-
3. General-Register der ersten zehn Bände des Jahrbuchs der K. K. geol. Reichsanstalt, 8vo. Wien
1863. Considerations on the phenomena attending the fall of Meteorites on the earth, by W.
Haidinger, (from the Philosophical Magazine for Nov. and Dec., 1861.) Seven papers on natural
History, by George V. Frauenfeld, extracted from the Verhandlungen der K. K. Zool. bot. Gesellschaft
in Wien. Also three papers by Messrs. Böck, Brunner, V. Wattenwyl, and Doleschall, from the same
journal, together with the seven papers mentioned above, presented by G. Ritter V. Frauenfeld.
Prof. Whitney remarked that these donations were of great value, especially those relating to the
Geological Survey of Austria, obtained through Baron von Richthofen. On motion, the special thanks
of the Academy were tendered to him and to the “K. K. Geologischen Reichsanstalt” for the donation.
Sheet seven of the Proceedings of this Academy, pps. 97-112, was received from the printer.
Committees of Finance and of Publication were then elected.
Dr. Cooper, on behalf of Dr. Newcomb, corresponding member, presented the following paper on
new Californian Helices, all of which, except the first species, were discovered by Dr. Cooper, while
connected with the State Geological Survey.

Descriptions of Nine New Species of Helix Inhabiting California.

BY W. NEWCOMB, M.D., OF OAKLAND, CAL.

Helix L.

Helix Hillebrandi Newc.

H. testa supra planulata, luteo-cornea, sub-carinata, fasciis albis bi-cingulata, sub-lente crebre
granulata, hirsuta; anfractibus 6 undique minute striatis, striis oblique transversis; anfr. ultimo
descendente; umbilico late-aperto; apertura lunari-ovale; peristomate tenuo, albo, reflexo, prope
umbilicam expanso.
Lat. maj. 0.9, min. 0.8 pol. Alt. 0.35 pol.
Hab. Tuolumne County, California.
Shell sub-planulate above, yellowish horn color, sub-carinate, under the glass thickly granulate,
hairy(?); whorls 6 very finely striate, striæ obliquely transverse; the last whorl descending; umbilicus
broadly open; aperture lunate oval; lip thin, white and reflected, near the umbilicus expanded.
Remarks.—But one recent specimen, with a number in a fossil state, were collected by M. Voy and
kindly placed in my hands. The granulated surface is confined to the epidermis, and the summit of
many of the granules is marked with a cicatrix indicating a hirsute character. The nearest allied
species is H. Dupetit-Thouarsi, from which it differs in its more depressed form and surface structure.
It is dedicated to Wm. Hillebrand, M.D., of Honolulu, a well-known naturalist.

Helix Tryoni Newc. State Collection, Species 1098.

H. testa solida, depresso-globosa, anguste obtecte umbilicata, supra cæruleo-cinerea, infra

sordido-alba, spira sub-turbinata; anfr. 6 convexi, ultimus descendens; striæ sub-lente numerosæ
insculptæ circum-volutæ; apertura sub-rotundata; columella callosa, obsolete unidentata; peristoma
vix reflexum, introrsum callosum.
Diam. maj. 1, min. 0.88 pol. Alt. 0.75 pol.
Var. b, anfr. superiores undis transversis albis.
Hab. Insulis “Santa Barbara,” et “San Nicolas,” Cal.
Shell solid, depressly globose, umbilicus narrow and covered, above of an ashy sky-blue, below of
a dirty white; spire sub-turbinate; suture well impressed, whorls 6 convex; numerous microscopical
striæ, sculptured and revolving with the whorls; aperture rounded; columella callous, obsoletely one
(sometimes two) toothed; lip scarcely reflected, thickened within; var. b, superior whorls with white
transverse undulating lines.
Hab. Santa Barbara, and San Nicolas Islands, Cal.[9]
This species was found in great abundance alive. The animal is of a deep smoky hue, almost black,
with sometimes the terminal half-inch of the foot of a dirty white. It is dedicated to a distinguished
American Conchologist.

Helix crebri-striata Newc. State Collection, Species 1036.

H. testa obtecte vel aperte umbilicata, turbine-depresse-globosa, translucido-cornea; anfr. 5

convexiusculi, ultimo descendente; apice sub-mamillato; sutura bene impressa; striæ transversæ
valde et creberrime insignæ, striæ longitudinis microscopice incisæ; apertura sub-rotunda; peris.
diverso (tenue, acute, sub-reflexo, vel crasso intus calloso) approximato cum callo profuso conjuncto,
vel sine callo; prope umbilicam expanso.
Diam. maj. 0.92, min. 0-75 pol. Alt. 0-55 ad 0-80 pol.
Hab. Ins. “San Clemente,” Cal.
Shell with a covered or open umbilicus, turbinately depressly globose, whorls 5 a little convex, the
last descending; suture well impressed; transverse striæ well and densely shown, longitudinal striæ
fine and impressed; aperture rounded; peristome various (thin, acute, a little reflected, or heavy, with
an interior thickening) approximate, with (or without) a profuse callus connecting the outer and inner
lips; near the umbilicus the columellar lip expands so as to partially cover the perforation.
 Hab. San Clemente Island, Cal. Abundant.
This shell, so difficult to describe, owing to its variable characters in different specimens, makes
the nearest approach to H. Kelletii Forbes, from which it may readily be distinguished by its sculpture
and other characters. In size and the elevation of the spire, it is one of the most variable of the
California species of Helix. Distinguished from H. intercisa W. G. Binney, by its not being solid, having
the umbilicus partially or completely open, and from the figure referred to, in being more depressly
trochiform in shape. The locality of H. intercisa is given as “Oregon Territory.” The shell varies in
some minor particulars, as in the want of a rufous apex, and its not being of the same color; in other
respects it seems to be a closely allied species.

Helix rufocincta Newc. State Collection, Species 624.

H. testa depresso-globosa, cornea, rufo-unifasciata, umbilicata, sub-lente decussata-striata; anfr. 6

ultimus non descendens; apertura sub-rotundo, labio reflexo, albo; sutura impressa; columella non
callosa.
Diam. maj. 0.70, min. 0.60 pol. Alt. 0.40 pol.
Hab. San Diego, et Insula “Santa Catalina,” Cal.
Shell depressly globose, horny, red-banded, umbilicate, under the lens decussately striate; whorls
6, the last not descending; aperture sub-rotund; lip white, reflected; suture impressed; columella not
callous.
The adult of this species is allied in outline to H. Pytyonesica Pfr., but is less elevated, and bears in
other respects no especial relation to that species. The size varies considerably, and the umbilicus in
some specimens is nearly closed, while in the typical specimens it is quite open.
But one dead specimen was found at San Diego; but on Catalina Island it was more common, 19
adult and mostly living specimens occurring, æstivating on the under surface of stones, in June.

Helix Gabbii Newc. State Collection, Species 1097.

H. testa sub-obtecte umbilicata, tenuis, pallide cornea, depresso-orbicularis, fusco obscure zonata;
anfr. 5 convexis ultimus descendens; sutura bene impressa; apertura sub-orbiculari; labro albo non
calloso, reflexo.
Diam. maj. 0.40, min. 0.35 pol. Alt. 0.20 pol.
Hab. Insul. “San Clemente,” Cal.
Shell with umbilicus partially covered, thin, pale corneous, depressly orbicular, with an indistinct
brown band; whorls 5 convex, the last descending; lip white, not thickened, reflected.
I have seen but a solitary specimen of this species. The size corresponds nearly with H. facta, but
the thinness of the shell, the color, the more rounded whorls, the deeper suture, and the thin, white,
reflected lip, sufficiently characterize this as a distinct species.

Helix facta Newc. State Collection, Species 1099.

H. testa obtecte rimata, depresso-orbiculari, solida, compacta, glabra, albida, fusco-rubro uni-
zonata; anfr. 5 ad 5½ convexiusculi, ultimus descendens; sutura modice impressa; apertura ovalis;
labro crasso, reflexo, flavido.
Diam. maj. 0.42, min. 0.35 pol. Alt. 0.22 pol.
Hab. Insul. “Santa Barbara,” et “San Nicolas.”
 Shell with perforation covered, depressed orbicular, solid, compact, smooth, whitish, zoned with a
brownish red band; whorls 5 to 5½ somewhat convex, the last descending; suture slightly
impressed; aperture oval; lip thick, reflected, yellowish.
A sub-fossil variety measures 0.60 by 0.32 inches. Very numerous on Santa Barbara Island; less so
on San Nicolas.
This species differs so essentially from the ordinary type of California Helices as to suggest a
tropical region as its original habitat. One character in common with many of our species may be
noticed, viz.: the colored band cutting the body whorl, inclosed between two faint light colored
cinctures.
The shell has a little the aspect of H. Rothi Pfr., from the Island of Syra, but is smaller, less
elevated, and with a thick reflected yellow lip.

Helix Whitneyi Newc. State Collection, Species 1112.

H. testa corneo-fumosa, sub-planulata, polita umbilico perspectivo; sutura bene impressa; apertura
lunaris; labro simplici; anfr. 4.
Diam. 0.20 pol. Alt. 0.10 pol.
Hab. prope “Lake Taho,” Cal., in montibus “Sierra Nevada,” elevatione 6100 ped. Angl.
Shell smoky horn color, nearly flat above, smooth, with a perspective umbilicus; suture well
impressed; aperture lunate; lip simple; whorls four.
In the umbilicus resembling H. striatella Anthony, with a smooth surface and a dull, smoky hue.
Only three specimens were found, under damp logs and bark along a mountain stream, together with
H. Breweri, and chersina.

H. Breweri Newc. State Collection, Species 1113.

H. testa discoidea, pallide-cornea, nitida, lucida; sutura sub-canaliculata, late umbilicata; anfr. 5.
apertura lunaris; labro tenue simplici.
Diam. 0.20 pol. Alt 0.10 pol.
Hab. prope “Lake Taho,” Cal., et montibus septentrionalibus.
Shell discoidal, pale corneous, shining, transparent, suture slightly channelled, broadly umbilicate;
whorls 5; aperture lunate; lip thin, simple.
This shell may be compared with H. arborea Say, from which it differs by its less elevation, more
polished and lighter colored surface, and more open umbilicus. Eight specimens found; one from
Northern California, by Prof. Brewer.

Helix Duranti Newc. State Collection, Species 987.

H. testa depressa, discoidea, pallide-cornea sub-lente minutissime striata, opaca, late et

perspective umbilicata; anfr. 4. ultimus declivis non descendens; sutura linearis; apertura rotundata-
lunaris; peristomate simplici, approximato.
Diam. 0.20 pol. Alt. 0.07 pol.
Hab. “Santa Barbara Island.”
Shell depressed, discoidal, pale corneous, under the lens minutely striated, opaque, broadly and
perspectively umbilicated; whorls 4, the last shelving but not descending (at the aperture); suture
linear; aperture rounded, lunate, lip simple, the external and internal approximating.
 This pretty little planorboid Helix bears a striking resemblance to Planorbis albus Müller, (hirsutus
Gould,) especially in its upper aspect. Beneath, the whorls are less distinctly shown than in the
Planorbis. I take pleasure in dedicating this species to Professor Henry Durant, of the College of
California.
In addition to the above, the State Collection contains the following species of Californian Helices:
Helix arrosa Gould, sps. 858, common near mouth of S. F. Bay. Also a yellow variety from Santa
Cruz, Mr. Rowell.
Helix Californiensis Lea, (?) sps. 969, or a var. of H. nickliniana Lea? J. G. Cooper.
Helix Carpenteri Newc., sps. 1136, a broken dead shell, from the head of San Joaquin Valley, Mr.
Gabb.
Helix Columbiana Lea, sps. 901, near San Francisco.
Helix chersina Say, sps. 1125, found near Lake Taho; very large. J. G. C.
Helix Dupetithouarsi Desh. sps. 492, from Point Cypress, Monterey. J. G. C.
Helix exarata Pfeiffer, sps. 920. Mt. Diablo, Prof. Brewer; Santa Cruz, Mr. Rowell.
Helix fidelis Gray, sps. 1135, Humboldt Bay, and mountains near lat. 42°. Prof. Brewer. A black
variety; Dr. Frick.
Helix infumata Gould, sps. 880, near Ballenas Bay, Mr. Rowell.
Helix Kellettii Forbes, sps. 856, San Diego, and Catalina Island; the latter a very fine variety. J. G.
Cooper.
Helix loricata Gould, sps. 880, near Oakland, Dr. Newcomb.
Helix Newberryana W. G. Binney, sps. 881, Temescal mountains, near Los Angeles, Prof. Brewer.
Helix Nickliniana Lea, sps. 912, near S. F. Bay; common. J. G. C.
Helix sportella Gould, sps. 899, near San Francisco. J. G. C.
Helix mormonum Pfeiffer; San Joaquin Valley, Mr. Gabb; north to Mount Shasta, Prof. Brewer.
Helix Traskii Newc., sps. 863, from mountains near Santa Barbara, Prof. Brewer. May be a variety of
H. Dupetithouarsi.
Helix tudiculata Binney, sps. 768, near San Diego and San Pedro. J. G. C.
Helix Vancouverensis Lea, sps. 1093, Straits of Fuca, Mr. Gabb. Perhaps extends south to Humboldt
Bay.

[9] This is the “H. Kelletii” mentioned on page 63 of this volume.—J. G. C.

 Regular Meeting, February 1st, 1864.
President in the Chair.
Eleven members present.
Donation to the Cabinet: A collection of dried plants from Arizona, by Mr. Spence.
Prof. Brewer presented the following papers:

Description of a New Species of Virgularia from the Coast of

California.
BY WM. M. GABB.

Virgularia Lam.

V. gracilis Gabb.

Polypidom long and very slender. Decorticated stem circular or elliptical in section, smooth on the
surface. Polypiferous lobes, slender, exsert, lunate, acute at the tips and broad at the base; arranged
obliquely and alternately on the antero-lateral face of the stem. These lobes occupy the upper half of
the polypidom; retaining their full size to the extreme apex, but diminishing below, so that on the
middle of the stem they are exceedingly minute; and an inch or two below, are only represented by a
slight ridge on the sheath, in which are two or three cells. The lower fourth of the sheath is dilated to
about three times the thickness of the rest of the stem.
Length 19 inches; diameter of the naked stem .03 in.; smallest diameter of stem, with the sheath,
.04; diameter of expanded base .13 in.; length of largest lobes .15 in.
Locality, Bay of Monterey, 20 fms. Collected by Dr. J. G. Cooper, of the State Geological Survey.
This species can be at once distinguished from V. elongata, G. (Proc. Cal. A. N. S., vol. 2, p. 167)
by its more slender form, its proportionally large polypiferous lobes, its cylindrical stem, without any
grooves, and by the comparatively smaller portion of the stem bearing the lobes.

Notice of Plants found Growing in Hot Springs in California.

BY PROF. WM. H. BREWER, OF THE STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
More than two years ago I laid before this Society some facts in regard to the growth of plants in
the thermal waters of this State. Since that time we have more observations, and some of the facts
are worthy of record, although the fact is not new that plants will grow in hot water.
At the Geysers in Lake County, there are numerous hot springs and steam jets, in and around
which there is an abundant growth of a low form of vegetation (Nostoc?) growing on the soil and
covering it with a bright green coating. In some of the warm springs and streams it accumulates in
considerable quantities in the water. The highest temperature of water observed at the time of our
visit, in 1861, was 207° F.; the water of many of the springs boiling violently at temperatures ranging
from 196° to that stated. This vegetable flourished in waters of the temperature of 200° F., but was
most abundant where the temperature ranged from 125° to 140° F. It coated the soil around the
steam jets, where it would be alternately exposed to the jets of steam issuing at a higher
temperature than that of boiling water, and of the cooler air.
In water of the temperatures of 100° to 125° there are filamentons algæ.
At the Little Geysers similar facts were observed.
In Plumas County, near Lassens Peak, there are three groups of hot springs, at all of which the
same form of vegetation is abundant under similar conditions, especially around steam jets. Various
gases, especially sulphohydric and sulphurous acids, accompanying the steam in all of these
localities, and the soil is generally impregnated with various saline substances. All the specimens of
the plants were unfortunately lost, so that no microscopic examination has been made, further than
could be done on the spot with a pocket lens.
Near all of these springs, the Panicum thermale Bolander, grows on the saline soils, sometimes
where the soil is warm and the grass is subjected to steam; but its station appears to depend more
upon the saline character of the soil than upon its temperature. It was frequently found on soil
saturated with sulphates of soda, lime, etc., and having a strongly acid reaction.
None of these forms are universally found about all the hot springs of the State; many springs
have been visited where neither of them occur, but where one is found the other is generally found
also.

Dr. Cooper presented the following paper for Dr. Newcomb, corresponding member:

Description of a New Species of Pedicularia.

BY W. NEWCOMB, M. D.

Pedicularia Swainson.

Pedicularia Californica Newc.

P. testa depresa-globosa, coccinea, minute transverse striata, supra rotundata, infra late aperta;
labio expanso, semi-circulare; columella crassa, dilatata, intus recta; apertura elongato sub-ovata;
extremitatibus effusis:

Long. 0.4 pol.

Lat. 0.3 ”
Alt. 0.25 ”

Hab. California.
Shell depressly globose, crimson colored, minutely transversely striated, above rounded, below
broadly open; lip expanded, semicircular; columella thick, dilated within, straight; aperture elongately
sub-ovate; extremities broadly notched.
The Genus Pedicularia was established by Swainson for the reception of a single species (P. sicula)
of that author. During the past year another species has been added by that eminent Naturalist, G. P.
Deshayes, of Paris.
In a work published, on the shells of the Isle of Bourbon, he describes a beautiful violet-colored
species under the name of P. elegantissima. The California species (of which only one specimen has
been obtained) can scarcely be surpassed in brilliancy by its Indian Ocean congener, although
bearing the exquisite name of elegantissima.
 For the specimen of the species here described, I am indebted to the extreme liberality of D. N.
Robinson, Esq., of San Francisco, who obtained it from a coral growing on a monster crustacean of
the genus Echidnocerus, which was taken in very deep water at the Farallones Islands.
 Regular Meeting, February 15th, 1864.
Vice-President Trask in the Chair.
Present thirteen members.
Messrs. A. Thyark and R. E. C. Stearns were elected resident members.
Donations to the Cabinet: Coral, from the Aitutaka Islands, by Capt. Edwards. Botanical specimens
from the White Mountains, N. H., by Dr. Cooper.
Donations to the Library: Report of the Committee to prepare a plan for a State University. Journal
of the Society of Arts and of the Institutions in Union, London, Eng. American Journal of Science and
Arts for November, 1863.
Mr. W. P. Blake exhibited specimens of Coal, said to have been found on the mountains east of the
Colorado River, about twenty-five miles from La Paz. He stated that it was of very good quality and
seemed too brilliant for surface coal, but that this might perhaps be attributed to the dryness of the
climate. He had, however, doubts as to the occurrence of coal associated with obsidian, as was
stated to be the case with these specimens.
The publishing committee was authorized to furnish copies of the Proceedings for 1863 to certain
libraries and journals in this State.
 Regular Meeting, March 7th, 1864.
President in the Chair.
Present twelve members; also Messrs. Turnbull, Smith, Gardiner, and Burgner, by invitation.
Donation to the Cabinet: Stuffed skin of a large venomous Snake, from the Sierra Madre of Mexico,
east of Mazatlan, presented by Mr. Burgner.
Donations to the Library: Pamphlets on the North American Helicidæ, by Thomas Bland, extracted
from the Annals of the N. Y. Lyceum of Natural History. American Journal of Science and Arts for
January, 1864. Boston Journal of Natural History, Vol. VII, No. 4.
Dr. Behr presented the following paper:

On Californian Lepidoptera. No. IV.

BY H. BEHR, M.D.

Fam. Vanessidæ.

Grapta.

Grapta Comma Harris.

I possess but one specimen of this Grapta. It was collected by Dr. Hillebrand, in Yosemite Valley,
during his late visit to California. It agrees in all essential points with two other specimens which I
obtained through the kindness of Mr. W. H. Edwards, of New York. The California specimen differs by
a somewhat lighter coloration on both sides, especially below where the ground color passes into a
yellowish brown, while in the Eastern specimen it becomes a bluish gray. On the upper side, also, the
bluish coloration of the edge of the angulated wings of the Eastern form is replaced by a yellowish
tint.
I would be inclined to take G. Comma for a local variety of G. C-album, were it not for the
caterpillar, which, according to Mr. Harris, resembles that of G. interrogationis, and is entirely without
that strangely dimidiate coloration so characteristic in G. C-album.
In G. C-album I cannot find any difference between my Californian and European specimens. Our
vernal generation is larger and somewhat lighter colored than any European specimens I have ever
seen. The caterpillar has a curious dimidiate coloration, which I have never seen except in this
species: the fore part being white, the abdominal part yellow. I found it on Urtica, but it will probably
be found on other Urticaceous plants, herbaceous as well as arborescent. G. C-album is not common
in the immediate neighborhood of San Francisco, but it is rather abundant in woody and mountainous
districts.
The Atlantic States are richer in species of this genus than either Europe or California, the two
latter of which possess the same number of species.

Europe. California. Atlantic Slope.

G. C-album. G. C-album. G. C-album.
G. Triangulum. G. Comma. G. Comma.
—— —— G. Faunus.
 —— —— G. Progne.
—— —— G. interrogationis.

Vanessa Fabr.

Vanessa Californica Boisd.

The caterpillar of this species feeds on Ceanothus, and lives socially like that of V. Urticæ L., from
which it differs very little. It is of a velvety black, and the spines which cover it are also black.
V. Californica is remarkable from its being one of the few wandering Lepidoptera yet known. The
first migration I observed was on November 15th, 1856, when numbers of this butterfly flew over
San Francisco in a general direction of south-south-east. They flew singly, and never crowded into
swarms. Most of these butterflies passed over our streets at too great a height to permit close
inspection—a few alighting here and there on lamp-posts, sign-boards, or in the more rural parts, on
flowers. It was from these that I obtained the specimens in my collection. They nearly all looked
worn and shattered, and there were no fresh specimens among them: clearly indicating that they
were not raised in the neighborhood of the city, but had come from distant parts. On the 18th some
of the stragglers were still to be seen, but on the 19th they had all disappeared. The second
migration took place last fall, but did not reach San Francisco. I received a series of specimens,
caught by Dr. Cooper, on the road to Lake Taho. Others I received from Oregon, where they were
collected by Mr. Gabb, during his geological examination of those northern regions. Neither Dr.
Cooper nor Mr. Gabb observed any marked direction in the flight of these butterflies; they agree that
the species was strikingly numerous. Mr. Gabb represents it as settling on the ground in dry arroyos,
very shy, and when frightened, always returning to the same spot—a behavior which pretty nearly
corresponds with that of the nearest relative, the European V. Polychloros. Both of these authorities
prove merely an unusual number of this butterfly at an unusual time of the year. The description of
the habits of the insect, as observed by Mr. Gabb in the Umpqua Valley, show clearly that there it felt
at home. By comparing notes received from Mr. Johnson, of Marin County, I have come to the
conclusion that the country to the northward, crowded with this Vanessa, must have sent at least one
colony south; and I was told by the above-mentioned gentleman, the statement being confirmed by
several intelligent farmers of the same neighborhood, that large numbers of a brown butterfly had
come from San Quentin, and crossed over that part of the bay which stretches between San Rafael
and Saucelito. About the same time, great numbers of the same insect were observed in Lagunita
Valley, at the base of Tamal Pais, where the swarms gathered in a great crowd, and disappeared as
suddenly as they came.
I trust that my loquacity in regard to the habits of this species will be pardoned. I consider the
observation of facts touching the migration of animals, of the highest importance, and think it
desirable that all observations on these points should be put on record: so that hereafter, when a
sufficient number of instances may have been collected, conclusions may be drawn, and perhaps
many hitherto inexplicable points in the geographical distribution of insects, and of organic life in
general, may be explained.
This butterfly is rather rare in common years, and is, perhaps, notwithstanding its name, V.
Californica, not exactly an indigenous species, at least not in the middle counties of our State. Unlike
all other Vanessidæ known to me, it has but one generation, at least in California, where the imago is
always found late in the season. I do not venture to decide whether V. Californica requires a longer
time for development in the larva state than the other Vanessidæ, or whether it has its vernal
generations somewhere else in adjacent countries. I have found but one colony of caterpillars. It was
in July, and most of the individuals were nearly full grown; they were rather delicate, the majority
died in the larva state, seven transformed about the end of the month, and a single chrysalis
produced a crippled butterfly.
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