436 COMPENDIUM OF GEOGRAPHY AND TItAVEL 



paradise-birds are yet known to inhabit the islands, and 

 it is probable that none exist. Both the cassowary 

 {C. Bennctti) and the white cockatoo are found in New 

 Britain, but, curiously enough, neither exists in New 

 Ireland. Apart from the bats, which are numerous, some 

 thirteen or fourteen kinds being known, the mammalia 

 are limited to about six species, among them being a 

 small kangaroo. 



The British islands of New Guinea, althougli perhaps 

 as numerous, are by no means so important as those 

 belonging to Germany. The Louisiade Archipelago 

 appears to be a continuation of the eastern promontory 

 of the mainland, while to the north of the latter a rough 

 triangle is formed by three groups — -the D'Entrecasteaux, 

 Trobriand, and Woodlark islands. A large and thickly- 

 packed mass of islands are grouped round the same 

 promontory, and form the eastern boundary of China 

 Strait. These, with the exception of Samarai, on which 

 is the Government station, are of no great importance. 



The Louisiades were probably discovered by Torres 

 as long ago as 1606, but though contributions to our 

 knowledge of them were made by D'Entrecasteaux and 

 Bougainville, it is only quite recently that any details 

 have been obtained of this labyrinth of reefs and islands, 

 and Captain Moresby, during his survey of 1873-74, was 

 the first to make his way through the barrier of reefs at 

 Teste Island. Eossel Island occupies the terminal 

 position in the group. It is 2 1 miles in length, densely 

 wooded, and composed of stratified rocks rising to a height 

 of 2750 feet. It shows traces of gold. The people are 

 cannibals, and are remarkable as not infrequently 

 exhilDiting the very singular dental abnormality of 

 niacrodontism, several teeth being joined together. 

 Sudest is the largest and most important of the group,. 



