Rev. T. Coan on the late Eruption of Mauna Loa. 63 
precise parallax. Taking the largest parallax possible in the ease 
without regard to coincidence of time, no part of the arch could 
ve been less than 100 miles above the earth. While if we use 
the smallest parallax that might be thus made out, we should 
place the phenomenon ata height of three or four hundred miles. 
But such a use of the data is unwarranted. The most probable 
result is that which we have given. It may be remarked further, 
that at the height of 200 miles, the angle of 2° subtended by 
the belt at New Haven, would give for its actual thickness about 
seven miles, 
If the segment of the arch remaining in the west after the rest 
of it had vanished, be laid down on the celestial globe as seen 
both from New Haven and East Windsor, the difference in the 
apparent positions will show a similar parallax to that determined 
ftom observations near the meridian. The altitude of the low- 
est point in the west as seen by Mr. Herrick was about 24°. If 
the real height of this point was 140 miles, its distance from the 
observer was less than 300 miles, which in the direction N. 
W. would make it perpendicular over western New York. 
Agr. VIL—WNotes on Kilauea and the recent Eruption of 
re auna Loa ; by Rev. Trrus Coan.* oe 
~ Tave but recently returned from a tour of nearly two hundred 
miles—embracing the shores of Puna, a visit to old Kilauea, and 
an'ascent to the seat of the late eruption on Mauna Loa. On this’ 
expedition I was accompanied by two sons of Mr. Alexander, oue of 
Mrs. Chamberlain ‘s, three of Mr. Lymaii’s, and one of my own. Our 
route through Puna you will remember with all its “Wous.” You 
recollect the limpid lake, full of mullet, at Kean ; the green lake 
i'a crater at Kapolo; the hot pool in the cavernfat Opihikao; the 
tepid lake at Kalepena ; the fissure bath at Kahaualea; the salt- 
orks at Kealakomo, &c. From the last named place, which is 
the farthest point you visited, we ascended a precipice of 100U feet 
and'in one day reached Kilauea. Here we spent one night, and 
Were cheered and entertained’ by the brilliant fireworks of old 
Mother Pele. I had visited this scene in March, and found the ac- 
tion in the crater much increased. On this occasion the action was 
Still more intense. The great dome, one mile and a-half in circuit, 
and several hundred feet high, has now lost its key stone, and the’ 
massive arch is fallen in. ‘The orifice on the summit is some two 
hundred eet in diameter, and down this opening you look directly 
Upon the raging lake below. On one side the dome is rent from 
the base to the summit, aud through this fissure, smoke and lavas 
* From a Letter addressed to 0. 8, Lyman, dated Hilo, Hawaii, July 31, 1952. 
