164 Geographical Collections. 



last residence in Africa, and by the articles obtained in exchange for the 

 duplicates in the African collection, certainly ranks third among the con- 

 tinental museums. — J. E. Gray. 



Dr Belenger's Overland Journey to India In a former number (Vol. I. 



p. 211) we briefly noticed the favourable report of Baron Cuvier on the 

 result of the travels of Dr Belenger, in the east. In M. Cuvier's analysis 

 of the proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, during the year 1829, 

 (just published) we find the following additional information : — 



Dr Adolphe Belenger has laid before the Academy, through the minister 

 of the interior, the results of his overland journey to the East Indies, in 

 company with Viscount Desbassyns, governor of Pondicherry. This journey 

 occupied fourteen months ; and Dr Belenger has, to the extent of his power, 

 laid under contribution the countries which he crossed. He has made 

 excellent collections in zoology and botany, in Georgia, Persia, at Bombay, 

 Mahe, on the Malabar coast, during his excursions in the Carnatic and on 

 the coast of Coromandel, at Bengal, in the Burmese empire, and at Java ; 

 and he has amassed together millions of objects of natural history. Pegu 

 especially, which had only been previously visited by Dr Wallich, afforded 

 him many new things. We have particularly recommended the department 

 of fishes to his attention, as being most incomplete in the Cabinet du Roi. 

 Those which he has sent, and especially the species taken in the rivers of 

 Bengal and in the Irrawaddi, the great Burmese river, are precious materials 

 for ichthyology. Herpetology is also much enriched : we have particularly 

 remarked large Pythons, a new genus of tortoises, with four toes on all the 

 feet, and many of those little species of Sauria and Batrachia, which 

 travellers too often neglect. Amongst the insects, about 130 species are new 

 to the Museum d'Histoire NatureUe, and of these some are very remarkable. 



Botanical Tour in Mexico and California Mr Drummond, of Belfast, is 



about to proceed by New York to New Orleans, and thence to Mexico and 

 California, on a botanical excursion. From the experience and activity of 

 this gentleman, we anticipate numerous and important acquisitions to our 

 knowledge of botany and the other departments of natural history. It is 

 expected that Mr Drummond will be absent for several years. '• 



Geographical Position of the Columhretes (Notice of a Paper recently 



communicated to the Royal Geographical Society, by Captain W. H. Smyth, 

 R. N.) — The Columbretes consist of some islets and rocks on the coast 

 of Valencia, in the Mediterranean : the largest lying in lat. 39° 56' north, 

 and longitude 0° 43' east. The attention of Captain Smyth had been 

 directed to these rocks during his survey of the Mediterranean, from the 

 evidence of their volcanic origin, as well as their dangerous nature, and the 

 circumstance of their affording a resort for pirates. They are said to be 

 overrun by snakes of beautifully variegated colours ; and, although unin- 

 habited, are much frequented by piratical vessels. Captain Smyth entered 

 into some detail on their geological construction, as well as their proper 

 nomenclature. They are generally called the Columbretes, but are named 

 Mont Calibre in the old chaits. The principal feature attending them con- 

 sists in the port, which is named Port Tofina, occupying the mouth of 

 what evidently appears to have been the crater of a volcano. The Moorish 

 xebecs and galliots lie concealed in this port, and from thence issue forth 

 on their piratical excursions. The islets amount to fourteen in number ; 

 extend about two miles, in a S. S. E. direction from the largest, which is 

 also the northernmost, and are nearly level with the surface of the sea. 

 Some of the rocks rise to a considerable height, in pinnacles, affording a 

 distant view from the top. Amongst them is one which has exactly the 

 appearance of a ship under sail. Captain Smyth's paper was accompanied 

 by a plan and view of these rocks. 



