438 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 



what graceful in appearance. Reptiles are represented by a 

 considerable number of different species, the largest of which 

 are those dreaded amphibious monsters of the Saurian family, 

 the alligators, which are plentifully scattered throughout the 

 territory in the numerous rivers, creeks, and swamjis, being 

 a constant menace to human life. The snake family is well 

 represented, those met with, however, being chiefly common 

 to Australia, excepting the death adder (Acanthophis), and 

 the whip-snake ( Diemansia ). The greater number of reptiles 

 are innocuous. Lizards and frogs also abound in all parts of 

 the possession. Insects are in swarms, from the harmless 

 butterfly to the dreaded scorpion. Of the feathered family 

 Papua can probably produce a more brilhant variety than 

 any other island on the globe. There is the noble cassowary, 

 the large and pigmy geese, ducks, fowls, pigeons, cockatoos, 

 ( both black and white ), parrots, kingfishers, hornbills, rifle- 

 birds, several varieties of bower-birds, the cat-bird, and 

 probably over 25 different species of the paradise bird. 



Geology. 



As yet our insight of the geology of British Papua is both 

 elementary and fragmentary. Based upon no specially 

 geological examination, our acquired knowledge is more 

 hypothetical than practical, being derived chiefly from exami- 

 nation of collected specimens, which probably do not fully 

 represent the primary condition of the localities from which 

 they were obtained. ]Notwithstanding this, it will be freely 

 admitted that many useful and practical data are available 

 upon which a general sketch may be based. Ths first collec- 

 tion of specimens from the Fly River revealed the auriferous 

 character of that part of the territory. Although the analysis 

 was based chiefly upon some stone tomahawks of altered 

 sandstone and greenstone or diorite, the results obtained were 

 indicativ^e of the existence of gold ; while the conclusions we 

 are enabled to arrive at inferentially of the probable auri- 

 ferous character of the high ranges of the interior, are derived 

 from an examination of the fragmentary specimens of slate, 

 quartz, sandstone, greenstone, and jasperoid rocks, obtained 

 from the coast east of Redscar Bay, also from the material 

 adduced by the expedition to the summit of the Owen 

 Stanley Range, upon which occasion indications of gold were 

 actually obtained in the bed of the Vanapa River. Basaltic 

 lavas occur frequently, and palseozoic rocks are met with in 

 abundance. The fossiliferous rocks noticed were those 



