xcii GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



The question of the most suitable location for a ship canal 

 across Middle America, whether by the way of the Isthmus 

 of Tehuantepec, Nicaragua, or Darien, continues to attract 

 the attention of the United States, thorough surveys over 

 the three lines having been made by officers of the American 

 Navy, and the results published by order of Congress. A 

 government board is now in session, having for its object 

 the discussion of the various routes, with a view of recom- 

 mending for consideration that which shall be most practi- 

 cable and desirable. A party has beeii again sent out by 

 the commission for the purpose of obtaining some further 

 data required before a definite conclusion can be reached. 



South America. Professor Hartt, during the past summer, 

 made a fourth visit to Brazil, with a view of continuing the 

 investigations previously conducted by him in regard to the 

 geography, ethnology, and geology of this empire, and will 

 probably remain long enough to add very much to our 

 knowledge of the region. He expects to receive the sanc- 

 tion and support of the Brazilian government in his research- 

 es, which is, of course, more interested than the rest of the 

 world in their accomplishment. 



Professor Orton not long since returned from a second 

 visit to South America, in the course of which he passed up 

 the Amazon and across the continent to Pascamayo, on the 

 Pacific, and thence down the coast to Lima, and up to Lake 

 Titicaca by the new railway. His principal object was the 

 exploration of the River Maraiion and its tributaries. He is 

 now about renewing his visit to South America, with a view 

 of making himself acquainted with the character of certain 

 little-known portions of Bolivia. 



Mr. Alexander Ao-assiz left New York on the 21st of No- 

 vember for the purpose of sj^ending the winter in Peru. It 

 was his intention to make a special exploration of the wa- 

 ters of Lake Titicaca and its adjoining region, in the interest 

 of the Museums of Comparative Zoology and of Ethnology 

 in Cambridge. Much is to be expected from him, from his 

 known energy and ability as an explorer. 



Anew survey of Paraguay has been undertaken under the 

 leadership of Mr. Charles Twite, Avho is accompanied by Mr. 

 Balzana and Mr. Keith Johnson as geographers. 



The region of Terra del Fuego has also been explored 



