PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Ixxxiii. 



wingless insects in the Antarctic regions point to an ancient 

 connection of New Zealand, South America, and Africa by a 

 great Antarctic continent. This is strengthened by the evidence 

 of fossil marsupials, which points to its having occurred at the 

 end of the Secondary period. 



Meanwhile the North Pole is not neglected, and the Peary 

 expedition, which started in that direction last July, will take 

 advantage of the power of communication offered by wireless 

 telegraphy. 



The results of Baron de Nordenskjold's recent explorations 

 in the Andes have been published, showing that he was the first 

 white man to visit certain tribes, who, until a year or two ago, 

 lived like people of the Stone Age. The Atsapuacas, in Bolivia, 

 still retain most of their original customs. 



An expedition under Mr. Stanley Gardiner has done much 

 valuable work in the neighbourhood of the Seychelles, in survey- 

 ing and marine and land zoology. The Seychelles Islands lie on 

 a submerged bank with depths down to 40 fathoms, the sides 

 of which descend very sharply to 2,000 fathoms. They are 

 much cleared for cultivation, but possess many indigenous plants, 

 amongst which the most interesting is, perhaps, the double 

 cocoanut, which is not found elsewhere. Its palms are either 

 male or female, the latter bearing two structurally distinct forms 

 of fruit on the same tree, as shown by an examination of 

 300 specimens. Mr. Gardiner believes this case to be unique. 



An account of a survey by the Nero has just been published, 

 showing a record depth of almost six miles at a spot between the 

 Midway Isles and Guan, which lies about 1,200 miles north of 

 New Guinea. 



Messrs. Barrett and Huntingdon are exploring the Tarim basin, 

 to the north-west of Tibet, and studying the river systems and 

 the ancient ruins which are found in the deserts of East 

 Turkestan. 



Floats are now used to study the direction and speed of ocean 

 movements, and one which started from California was picked 

 up in the Java Sea, after a journey of at least 1 1,350 miles. 



