November. 1896. SOME NEW BOOKS. ' 331 



lumholtzi), which is only found in this part of AustraHa. As regards 

 this animal, which appears to be both scarce and shy, our author was 

 not so successful as on the former expeditions ; still, he met v/ith a 

 different set of marsupials in this district and with many other 

 novelties, including numerous crocodiles and so-called flying foxes 

 (Ptevopus). 



Leaving Australia on his way northwards. Professor Semon pro- 

 ceeded to Thursday Island in Torres Strait, where he cruised about 

 and inspected the pearl and trepang fisheries and investigated the 

 marine fauna. Here, too, he made a most interesting excursion to 

 the southern coast of New Guinea, and introduces a vivid account of 

 the native Papuans, with some good illustrations of their faces and 

 their dwelling-places. Proceeding up the Gara River he had the 

 pleasure of shooting some paradise-birds [Pavadisea raggiana and 

 Cicinurus regius), and of obtaining specimens of other products of this 

 strange land. An excellent chapter is devoted to a disquisition on 

 the Papuan race and its alliances. 



From Thursday Island, after returning to Australia for five 

 months in order to make his collection of the various stages of 

 Cevatodus more complete, our traveller proceeded to Java, where, like 

 all other visitors, he was enchanted with the beauty of the celebrated 

 botanic garden at Buitenzorg and the luxuriant vegetation of the 

 whole island. From Java Professor Semon made a long excursion to 

 the northern Moluccas, travelling by Celebes to Amboina, where he 

 secured considerable collections both of marine and terrestrial fauna. 

 From here, after a short visit to the Banda group. Professor Semon 

 returned to Europe by Calcutta, whence he did not omit to run up to 

 Darjeeling and see the celebrated view of Kinchinjunga and the 

 Himalayas. We must allow that he laid out his time well, and did 

 not fail to take every opportunity of seeing all the sights that Nature 

 could afford him. 



In conclusion, we can truly say that Professor Semon's narrative 

 is one of the best put together and most instructive volumes of travels 

 that we have ever read, rivalling even the well-known " Naturalist on 

 the Amazons," of Bates, and the "Malay Archipelago," of Wallace. 

 Since we read " The Cruise of the ' Marcheesa,' " no journal of a 

 natural history expedition has interested us more. Professor Semon's 

 volume is, moreover, abundantly illustrated from well-executed photo- 

 graphs. Unfortunately for our countrymen, many of whom are still 

 imperfectly educated. Professor Semon has chosen to write it in his 

 mother-tongue, but we are sure that an English translation of this 

 excellent piece of work would be much appreciated, and trust that 

 measures will be taken to set it before the British public in their own 

 language. P. L. S. 



The Cause of Malaria. 



Roman Fever : the results of an enquiry, during three years' residence on the 

 spot, into the Origin, History, Distribution, and Nature of the Malarial Fevers of 

 the Roman Campagna, with especial reference to their supposed connection 

 with Pathogenic Organisms. By W. North. 8vo, pp. xx., 419. London : 

 Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd., 1896. 



The Goulstonian Lectures on the Life-History of the Malaria Gek.m 

 OUTSIDE THE HuMAN BoDV. Delivered before the Royal College of Physicians 

 of London, by P. Manson, March, 1896. Reprinted from British Mediail 

 Journal. 



In an article published in Natural Science in September, 1894, ^" 

 account was given of the researches made up to that date as to the cause 



