Letters, Extracts, and Notes. 193 



strains." Mr. Lawrie is of opinion that " by a continual 

 careful mating and subsequent care of the progeny for 

 several generations it is possible, not only to considerably 

 increase the average egg- production, but also, by careful 

 selection, to evolve a strain with robust constitution, 

 immunity from disease, and marked fecundity." 



We suppose that no Gallus hankiva in a state of nature 

 would lay more than from 20 to 30 eggs in the year. To 

 increase the number of eggs to 179 is, therefore, a remarkable 

 piece of work. But this, it appears, can only be done in 

 Australia. In our cold climate, we are told on the best 

 authority that anything over 100 eggs from each hen is 

 quite exceptional. 



Mr. Boyd Alexander's new African Expedition. — Mr. Boyd 

 Alexander is now departing on another important expedition 

 to West Africa, and will leave England very shortly. The 

 main object in view is the establishment of the fact that the 

 chain of islands in the Gulf of Guinea, on the West Coast of 

 Africa, which are situated at distances varying from twenty 

 to forty miles from the mainland, formed at one time a part 

 of the African Continent. 



Some years ago, Mr. Alexander during his exploration at 

 Fernando Po demonstrated that the fauna of that island 

 was closely allied to that of the mainland. As a result of his 

 investigations on that journey, the explorer decided, when 

 opportunity offered, upon pursuing similar investigations 

 with regard to the remaining islands of that group. Litera- 

 ture regarding these islands is scanty, and there has been 

 hitherto practically no scientific exploration of them. 



Another important point is to discover whether these 

 islands are of volcanic origin. 



Mr. Alexander will not be accompanied by any other 

 European durnig his travels. His assistant, Jose Lopez, will 

 leave England in advance, in order to organize the caravan 

 of the expedition at Cape Coast. There being no labour 

 available on the islands themselves, Mr. Alexander will 



SER. IX. VOL. III. o 



