156 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
on,—came to anchor in the estuary of the River Plate off Monte 
Video on November 17th. A course was next shaped for the 
Falkland Islands, and entering the Straits of Magellan on the 
1st January, 1879, the vessel, after stopping for a few days at the 
Chilian settlement of Sandy Point, proceeded to the surveying 
ground among the channels on the west coast of Patagonia. 
Here the greater portion of the succeeding two years was spent, 
executing surveys of previously uncharted waters, and adding to 
those which had previously been only partially effected. During 
the more rigorous winter months some time was spent at 
Coquimbo, on the coast of Chili, where the ship was refitted and 
fresh supplies of stores obtained. 
Leaving the South American coast in June, 1880, the next 
place visited was Tahiti, where twelve days were spent ere 
journeying on towards the great Fiji group. Here the ‘ Alert’ 
anchored off Levuka for three weeks, and after visiting the 
Friendly Islands for ten days, returned to Levuka, whence, after 
another ten days in harbour, she steamed to Sidney, which port 
was reached on the 23rd January, 1881. 
After refitting, the vessel steamed up the east coast of 
Australia, visiting all the more important islands en route. At 
all the anchorages marine specimens were collected, as well as 
in the more open parts of the Prince of Wales Channel, where 
the depth rarely exceeds thirty fathoms. A good many interesting 
specimens were also obtained through the assistance of the pearl- 
shell divers, who have an extensive and lucrative industry in 
these waters. 
From Port Darwin to Singapore in November, 1881, whence, 
in the following month of February, the vessel left for the 
Seychelles and Amirante Islands, touching at Coquimbo on the 
way. With a survey of the Glorioso Islands, 120 miles north of 
Madagascar, the scientific work of the ‘ Alert’ was brought to a 
close, and the vessel returned home vid the Cape and St. Helena. 
arriving in Plymouth Sound on the 8rd September, 1882, after 
an absence of nearly four years. 
Such is a brief outline of the voyage, the scientific results of 
which are embodied in the two volumes before us. It need 
scarcely be said that the general reader will find Dr. Coppinger’s 
narrative pleasanter reading than the more voluminous Report 
issued by the Trustees of the British Museum ; but the naturalist 
