96 NATURAL SCIENCE. ^^^.^ 



lower peak of Urucum, some 2,500 feet high. On the mountain 

 there are massive deposits of pure pyrolusite. The richly fossiliferous 

 Mesozoic Limestones of BoHvia and the Andes of Western La 

 Plata do not seem to extend as far east as the southern part of Matto 

 Grosso. Dr. Evans' fellow-traveller, Mr. Spencer Moore, has made 

 a large collection of plants. 



At the meeting of the Zoological Society on March i, Mr. 

 Graham Kerr exhibited a series of lantern slides prepared from 

 negatives taken during his ascent of the Pilcomayo River in the 

 steamer, " Explorer." These gave a good representation of the 

 various types of scenery met with during that ill-fated expedition, 

 and especially of the salt desert where the steamer was finally 

 abandoned. The most valuable part of Mr. Kerr's collections had to 

 be left with the steamer, but, nevertheless, important additions were 

 made to the knowledge of the fauna of the district. 



A LIST of the fossils at present known from Western Australia 

 has been published by Mr. Harry P. Woodward, the Government 

 Geologist, in his report for 1890 (issued at the close of 1891). It is 

 interesting to find familiar European names among the Devonian, 

 Carboniferous, and Jurassic species ; of special interest, too, is the 

 record from the Cambrian rocks of Olenellus and Salterella. 



The excessive rainfall during the early part of the present winter 

 has caused the opening of numerous chasms or "swallow holes." 

 These are found principally along the line where Tertiary clays over- 

 lap the chalk. Fortunately, in the southern counties, few houses 

 happen to be situated exactly on the line where "swallows" are 

 likely to occur. Thus far all the subsidences have taken place in 

 woods or open fields. 



The Mediterratiean Natnvalist,^. monthly journal of Natural Science, 

 edited by Mr. J. H. Cooke, B.Sc, F.G.S., of St. JuHans, Malta, does 

 not appear to be so widely known in Britain as it deserves to be. 

 The first part appeared on June i, 1891, and the journal contains 

 much matter concerning the Mediterranean region of very wide 

 interest. 



We are glad to hear that the American Naturalist, of which no 

 number has reached England since November, is to be revived 

 almost immediately under the auspices of new publishers. 



