Sharpies.] 242 March 21, 



Sicily, and a specimen of carbonate of copper and zinc, both the 

 gift of Mr. Thomas Gaffield, who had also presented to the 

 Museum some fine concretions. A vote of thanks for the gift 

 was passed. 



Mr. Bouve also spoke of the recent illness of Dr. D. H. Storer, 

 the only original member now living, who, he was glad to say, 

 was at present convalescent. 



It was unanimously voted that the Secretary express to Dr. 

 Storer the Society's sympathy for his past suffering, and the 

 pleasure with which it learns his progress to recovery. 



General Meeting, March 21, 1883. 



The President, Mr. S. H. Scudder, in the chair. Twenty- 

 seven persons present. 



The following paper was read : 



TURKS ISLAND AND THE GUANO CAVES OF THE CAICOS 



ISLANDS. 



BY S. P. SHARPLES, S. B. 



Directly south from Boston at a distance of about one thousand 

 miles is the terminus of the long coral reef known as the 

 Bahamas. This reef with its banks, rocks and islands, stretching 

 from Florida to the eastern end of Cuba, forms an almost impen- 

 etrable barrier to the Gulf of Mexico. It has but few pas- 

 sages through it, and these are so poor, that the sailor is thankful 

 when he has escaped their dangers. 



Chief among these passages is Turks Island Channel which is 

 taken by most of the vessels going to the southern ports of Cuba 

 and to San Domingo. 



Turks Island is the most easterly of these islands and is sepa- 

 rated from the Caicos by the Turks Island Channel ; this channel 

 is quite wide and deep, but it is bordered by many dangerous 

 reefs and has strong currents setting across it ; anything set 

 adrift on Turks speedily finds its way across the channel to the 

 Caicos. Vessels are apt to follow the same course and wrecks 

 are frequent. 



