23 



ety by the Secretary of American Board of Foreign Missions 

 from the volcano Kilauea in Hawaii, the crater of which is 

 said to be the largest in the world. 



He quoted from writers who had visited the volcano some glow- 

 ing accounts of its size, appearance, &c, and inquired of Mr. Cou- 

 thouy if these observations were correct. Mr. Couthouy said that 

 most of them were exaggerations, and promised the Society a 

 paper on the subject. 



Dr. Jackson stated that a writer in Silliman's Journal had said 

 that vast quantities of native sulphur existed in the neighborhood of 

 the volcano, and observed that since the discussion of the sulphur 

 monopoly in Sicily it was an interesting question for commerce, if 

 it were true. Mr. Couthouy replied that the sulphur merely ex- 

 isted as a thin covering on the rocks in the vicinity of the crater, 

 and that there was not a ship-load of sulphur on the whole island. 



Mr. Abbot reported on some specimens of Birds in the 

 Cabinet. They were : 



Alcedo bicolor. 

 Alcedo Smyrnensis. 

 Alcedo rudis. 

 Alcedo Bensalensis. 



Alcedo alcyon. 

 Charadrius Helveticus. 

 Trinc;a Islandica. 



The two last species were not before in the Cabinet of the Soci- 

 ety. 



Dr. Clay reported on some minerals presented by Hon. R. 

 C. Winthrop from Gov. Winthrop's collection, and proposed 

 that a part of them should be retained, and the others which 

 were not suitable for exchange, should be given away 

 where they would be acceptable. On motion of Mr. Bouve, 

 it was Voted, that Dr. Gay be authorized to dispose of them 

 as he thinks best for the interest of the Society. 



A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Winthrop for his 

 donation. 



The President read the following communication : 



June 2, 1841. 

 The Committee appointed to audit the treasurer's accounts for 

 the past year, have attended to the duty assigned them, and report 



