270 



From the great circumference and elevation of the skull, we 

 should expect a large internal capacity ; and we find it ninety- 

 cubic inches, very large for an Indian skull, and exceeding the 

 average of Caucasian crania. 



Dr. Gould presented sonae specimens from the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, near Red River, consisting of travertin, fossil 

 oysters, and an artificial mineral, composed principally of 

 silex ; this mineral clogs the furnaces for boiling sugar, in 

 which the canes are burnt, and is evidently formed from 

 the silex in their cortical substance. Dr. C. T. Jackson 

 remarked, that the canes contained both silex and potash, 

 so that this mineral was a true glass, colored probably by 

 oxide of iron. 



Mr. Bouve announced the arrival from New Brunswick, 

 in good condition, of portions of the trunks of large fossil 

 trees, presented by Mr. Moses B. Perley ; the thanks of the 

 Society were voted for the donation. 



November 17, 1852. 

 The President in the Chair. 



Dr. Brewer read a paper on the distribution and habits 

 of the Cliff Swallow, Ilirundo lunifrons, giving data of its 

 appearance in different parts of New England, where it 

 had only been seen within a few years. As the paper was 

 intended for publication in the Smithsonian Contributions 

 to Knowledge, an abstract was not taken. 



Mr. Ayres said, he had seen this bird in Hartford, Conn., 

 as long since as 1833, and had heard of it in that town 

 two years before. Dr. Pickering, also, had noticed it in 

 the vicinity of Wenham Lake, several years since, where it 



