F. GEOGRAPHY. 249 



RECENT EXPLORATIONS IN NEW GUINEA. 



A summary of the more recent labors in regard to the ex- 

 ploration of New Guinea has lately been published, in Nature, 

 by Mr. Adolph Bernhard Meyer, himself distinguished in this 

 connection. In this he states that, in 1871, a steamer was 

 sent out by the Dutch to circumnavigate the island, and to 

 take possession of that portion of the country which did not 

 already belong to them. This failed to accomplish its object, 

 a few posts only being established on the north coast, when 

 the vessel was obliged to return without having performed 

 its task. 



A second expedition was sent out in 1872, which accom- 

 plished less than the first. It is, however, proposed to send 

 out an expedition in 1874. In 1870 some Italians, under the 

 guidance of M. Cerruti, visited the southwest coast, for the 

 purpose of exploring the strait between the island of Salwat- 

 ty and the mainland. They were, however, attacked and 

 beaten off by the natives in McCluer Gulf. In 1872 two 

 Italian naturalists, M. Beccari and M. D'Albertis, endeavored 

 to visit the place, on the southwest coast, called Utanate, but 

 failed, on account of currents and winds. They remained for 

 some time at Sorong, and thence proceeded to Dorey, in the 

 north, and made a station on the Arfak Mountains. They 

 returned in 1872, an Italian vessel of war having been sent 

 after them. 



They brought back numerous interesting collections in nat- 

 ural history, embracing large numbers of birds-of-paradise 

 and parrots. About the same time Mr. Michlucho Maclay, 

 to whom reference has been made in our pages, spent a sea- 

 son at Astrolabe Bay. Mr. Meyer himself has been among 

 the most prominent explorers of this region, having proceed- 

 ed from Ternate, early in the year 1873, to the harbor of 

 Dorey, in the northwest corner of Geelvink's Bay, from which 

 place he went to Mafood, about sixty miles from Dorey. 

 After examining this locality, he crossed to the island of 

 Mysore, where he spent considerable time, and procured many 

 interesting collections. No birds-of-paradise were found on 

 the island ; and on the island of Jobie, believed to contain 

 many species, he found but three kinds. From this point 

 he crossed inland into McCluer Gulf, and thence to a river 



L 2 



