272 



NA TURE 



[July 22, 1897 



much like to know how he reconciles this assumed 

 southern origin of the marsupial fauna with the occur- 

 rence of opossums in the European Oligocene. He is 

 also not quite up to date with regard to the extent or 

 affinities of some of the groups of the southern fauna. 

 For instance, on p. 4, we find no mention of the fact that 

 Galaxias is represented at the Cape ; while, from a state- 

 ment two pages later, the author appears to be unaware 

 that the giant extinct birds of Patagonia have no sort of 

 relationship with the Ostrich group. Then, again, we 

 must take exception to the statement on p. 1 5, that the 

 Australian fauna comprises only "a few rodents" ; while 

 we should like to be informed whether, in face of the 

 views of Mr. Douglas Ogilby, he has any special reason 

 for the statement that " there is strong reason to believe " 

 the Dingo " was introduced by human agency." Although 

 it is perhaps invidious to call attention to slight slips in 

 a work of this nature, it is difficult to avoid asking why 

 Sefior Ameghino is credited on p. 20 with writing in the 

 " Brazilian " Bulletin of the Academy of Cordova; to 

 which it may be added that the voluminous writer 

 referred to has had a good deal to say on the same sub- 

 iect since 1894. 



After treating in the introductory chapter of the lead- 

 ing types of Australian mammals, some of which are 



here introduced to a number of piscine types unfamiliar 

 to the European, some remarkable for their size and 

 peculiar structure, while others, like the Coral-fishes, to 

 which a coloured plate is devoted, claim attention from 

 their brilliant hues and grotesque forms. It is, however, 

 by no means the largest or the best-flavoured fish that 

 are of the most commercial value. " From a utilitarian 

 point of view," writes the author, "the Barracouta 

 ( Thyrsites) is undoubtedly one of the, if not the, most im- 

 portant of the Tasmanian food-fishes. While the real or 

 Hobart Trumpeter may be said to typify the species fitted, 

 like the Turbot, to grace the table of the wealthy, the 

 Barracouta may be as essentially styled the poor man's 

 fish. It takes in Tasmania the place that is occupied by 

 the modest Herring or the Haddock in the EngHsh 

 market." 



Turning back to chapter iv., we find this devoted to 

 White Ants, or Termites, and the marvellous size and form 

 to which they raise their mounds in certain parts of the 

 country. Indeed, so numerous and so large are these 

 mounds, that they frequently form an important feature 

 in the landscape, as is well shown in several of the 

 illustrations, one of which we are able to give (Fig. 2). 



Perhaps the most fascinating chapter in the book is 

 the one (v.) describing Houtm.an's Abrolhos, those low- 



FiG. I. — Spinous lizards, showing knapsack-like neck excrescences 



admirably illustrated, and a iG\^ of the birds, in the 

 second chapter the author describes in detail the manners 

 and appearance of some of the more notable species 

 among the latter. And here his photographs of the 

 "More-pork" {Podargtis) and "Laughing-jackass" 

 {Dacelo) are almost speaking likenesses. Something, 

 however, might well have been added with regard to 

 that very characteristic Australian bird, the Piping-crow 

 {Gymnorhina), which appears to be only incidentally 

 mentioned on p. 52. Following birds, the third chapter 

 is naturally devoted to lizards, where the author's illus- 

 trations of the extraordinary attitudes a:ssumed by the 

 frilled lizard {Chlamydosaurus), previously published in 

 the Zoological Society's Proceedings and in Nature, are 

 reproduced. Although it is less apparent than before, it 

 is to be regretted that the author cannot thoroughly 

 purge himself of the idea that the erect attitude of this 

 creature has something to do with Dinosaurian ancestry ; 

 and it would have been much better if all reference to 

 the structure of Compsognatkus, about which the general 

 public knows nothing and cares less, had been omitted. 

 After lizards we look in vain for snakes, and we should 

 have expected fishes in juxtaposition. These latter are, 

 however, treated of in the sixth chapter, where Mr. 

 Kent, with twelve years' experience as inspector of 

 fisheries in " Westralia," speaks with authority. We are 



NO. 1447, VOL. 56] 



lying coral islands situated off Western Australia, so 

 interesting to the historian as being the scene of the 

 wreck of the Batavian e.xpedition of 1629, which led to 

 the discovery of Australia, and to the naturalist as form- 

 ing the border line between a tropical and temperate 

 fauna. Nowhere else, we are told, are such extensive 

 sheets of one and the same species of coral to be met 

 with as here. Of the reef corals, the author writes that 

 "while growing very near to the surface level of the 

 water at low ebb tide, they very rarely appear above it, 

 and then to the extent of a few inches only." And it is 

 well for them that this is so, since the author relates 

 how on one cold winter morning he found the tips of 

 the madrepores that had been thus exposed, completely 

 killed, indicating, in spite of their luxuriant growth, that 

 we are near the limits suitable for coral existence. Much 

 interest attaches to the author's description and illus- 

 tration of " the birth of a coral island," but for this and 

 the description of the coral reefs themselves, we must 

 refer our readers to the original. Pearls and pearl-fish- 

 ing, although intimately connected with coral reefs, are 

 treated of in chapter vii. in a manner adequate to the 

 importance of such a valuable trade ; and the reader 

 will there learn how the fishery has been gradually driven 

 by exhaustion from the shallows to deeper and deeper 

 water, while the complexity of the plant required for its 



