January 7, 1897 | 
NATURE 
227 
station, and the height, determined by computation, 
through a chain of triangles over 400 miles long, from 
Buffelsfontein station, the height of which was deter- 
mined by levelling operations at Port Elizabeth, was 
only 1°6 feet. 
Most of the astronomical observations were made with 
the Repsold theodolite, but before its arrival the latitudes 
were determined by a Talcott zenith telescope, con- 
structed by Troughton and Simms. As regards lati- 
tudes the preliminary results only are given, for since 
the observations were made the whole of the stars have 
been reobserved on the meridian with the Cape transit 
circle. 
the transit circle, and all the results depend upon signals 
exchanged with the Cape Observatory. The longitude 
of Durban was determined as part of the work in the 
telegraphic connection of the longitudes of Aden and 
the Cape; and observations of longitude were made at 
other places, as circumstances admitted, by Colonel 
Morris, Mr. Maclear, and Mr. Pett. Astronomical 
observations of azimuth were made at several of the 
principal stations, and the observed azimuths were re- 
ferred to lines of the principal triangulation. 
The survey, on the whole, appears to give results 
slightly in favour of Airy’s elements of the earth as 
compared with Clarke’s, but, as Dr. Gill remarks, this 
conclusion must be adopted with great reserve. For 
final results we must await the completion of Dr. Gill’s 
original scheme. : 
Colonel Morris’ Report contains a statement of the 
formule and methods of computation, with the auxiliary 
tables employed, which will be of the greatest use to 
Government surveyors in the colony; and his whole 
Report will be of great assistance to any one who has to 
conduct similar operations in other parts of the world. 
The Report is illustrated with excellent lithographic 
plates of the theodolites, the base-measuring apparatus, 
Comparateur, triangulation, &c., and the Government 
printers at the Cape have successfully carried out what 
must have been to them no easy task. 
C. W. WILSON. 
IN THE AUSTRALIAN BUSH AND ON THE 
COAST OF THE CORAL SEAS. 
ROF. RICHARD SEMON, of Jena, the author of 
the above volume, will be well known to biological 
readers in connection with the valuable monographs 
that, under the title of “ Zoologische Forschungsreisen 
in Australien und dem Malayischen Archipel,” have been 
produced by himself, Prof. Ernst Haeckel, E. von Mar- 
tens, and other accomplished collaborators as the out- 
come of his travels and collections in the aforesaid 
regions during the years 1891-92. 
The treatise under review is written in an essentially 
popular vein. It is a narrative of his voyage out to 
Australia ; residence in and investigations conducted 
concerning the fauna of limited districts of that island 
continent ; and of his homeward route, with a detour em- 
bracing New Guinea and a considerable area of Malaya. 
The larger section, associated with the title of “The 
Australian Bush,” deals only with portions of the eastern- 
most of the six Australian colonies, that of Queensland. 
The main object of Prof. Semon’s expedition was the 
investigation of the embryological phenomena of those 
archaic zoological types peculiar to the Australian region. 
The lung-fish, Ceratodus Forster’, and the monotre- 
matous mammals Platypus and Echidna, whose unique, 
egg-laying habits were for the first time incontestably 
demonstrated some years since (1884) by our fellow- 
1 ‘Tm Australischen Busch und an den Kiisten des Korallenmeeres-Reiseer- 
lebnisse und Beobachtungen eines Naturforschers in Australien, Neu- 
Guinea und den Molukken.” Von Richard Semon. 8yo, pp. xiv + 556. 
Mit 85 Abildungen und 4 Karten. (Leipsig : Wilhelm Engelmann, 1896.) 
NO. I419, VOL. 55 | 
The origin of all the longitudes is the centre of | 
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countryman, Mr. W. H. Caldwell. With this specified 
end in view, M. Semon proceeded to South Queensland 
and camped out for several weeks on the banks of the 
rivers Burnet and its tributary the Boyne, at some little 
distance from the townships of Gayndah and Coonam- 
bula. All three of the zoological types named are indi- 
genous to this watershed (Ceratodus existing nowhere 
else), and by making liberal use of the assistance of the 
semi-civilised natives an abundant supply of the materials 
desired were obtained. While a few of the more salient 
developmental phases of Ceratodus and Echidna are 
figured in this volume, their detailed histological delinea- 
tion and description are relegated to the monographs 
previously cited. 
As the result of the first week’s work, and the offered 
reward of half-a-crown for each female Echidna, one 
alone of the several natives engaged brought in as many 
as six of these monotremes, and a large assortment of 
other animals, altogether making good his claim for 
eleven shillings, after deducting rations. The outcome of 
the prompt payment of the rewards earned was somewhat 
disastrous. During Prof. Semon’s absence from the camp 
the succeeding day, the natives contrived to exchange 
their hard cash for “ fire-water” at the nearest hostelry— 
an undoubted breach of the regulations on the part of the 
vendor—and with the consequence that every man, woman 
and child, some thirty all told, were, on the learned Pro- 
fessor’s return, dead drunk. A similar bacchanalian 
carouse, with threatened hostilities among themselves, is 
recorded as having followed the payment of the yet more 
liberal prize of 100 marks (£5), that was awarded to the 
first of the band of aborigines to bring in the ova of 
Ceratodus. Inthe case of such substantial sums being 
won by natives of such essentially child-like irrespon- 
sibility, the proper course would undoubtedly have been to 
have lodged the money for disbursal for their benefit in 
the hands of some one of the neighbouring responsible 
settlers. 
In his brief reference to the life-habits of the Echidna, 
Prof. Semon places on record an interesting demonstra- 
tion of the conspicuous homing instincts, and also of the 
travelling capabilities of the species. An example brought 
into the camp from a distance of no less than 6 kilometres, 
escaped in the night from the sack in which it was confined. 
A native following up its track, found it the following 
morning reposing in close vicinity to the spot where it 
was originally captured. The data chronicled, though 
apparently not from direct observation, concerning the 
food habits of the Echidna, in M. Semon’s book, are 
somewhat at variance with those personally determined. 
It is here stated that worms and insects of all descriptions 
(Kerbtieren aller Art), though more particularly ants, con- 
stitute its normal pabulum. Also that ants, in the 
ordinary sense of the term, are devoured after the fashion 
peculiar to the typical ant-eaters, Myrmecophagide. With 
the several examples kept by the writer for long intervals, 
and which becoming tame were permitted to seek their 
nourishment in their native “ bush,” it was found that these 
Echidne not only limited their attention to ants, but in 
this connection cared only for the white succulent larvae 
and pupe or, so-called, eggs. Antsin their ordinary adult 
form, as in a teeming ant-track, would be altogether 
ignored. At the same time while consuming the larve, 
to gain access to which they tear open the hillocks, or 
overturn stones with their powerful claws, a considerable 
number of adult ants may be adventitiously injested. 
The quest for the ova of Ceratodus proved to be a 
more lengthened task. No less than eight months were 
occupied in obtaining an accurate knowledge of that 
animal’s spawning season, and in registering the develop- 
mental features of the ova when obtained. The per- 
severing search, coupled with the handsome reward 
offered to the natives previously recorded, resulted in the 
ultimate acquisition of an abundant supply of material, 
