TBANSACTIONS OF SECTION B. 457 



der Q. Sella, is now extended all over the kingdom by local sections, chiefly 

 owing to the exertions of Mr. R. E. Budden. It publishes a Bulletin. 



The section for Commercial Geography of the Geographical Society, originated 

 by Count Telfener, has not as yet found any definite object. 



The Milanese Society for African Commercial Exploration, founded in 1878, 

 with Commander Negri as honorary, and Commander C. Erba as acting Presi- 

 dent, has already started an expedition under Dr. Matteucci, and has invited 

 Piaggia to undertake another, for pearl explorations on the Gualima. 



Of Geographical periodicals, Italy has ' L'Esploratore ' (Milan), ' Cosmos,' edited 

 by Guido Cora at Turin, the ' Geological Bulletin.' ' Consular Bulletin,' and the 

 ' Giro del Mondo ' (Milan). Of other publications, the account by Professor Giglioli 

 of the ' Voyage of the Magenta,' and the first volume of the account of the ' Travels 

 on the Blue Nile,' by the Missionary Beltrame, are specialised. 



In Cartography, the chief progress has been made in scholastic maps ; a large 

 relief map of Italy, by Cherubim, being the best, though Guido Cora is preparing 

 a globe and set of wall-maps of considerable excellence. 



7. Italian Explorers in New Guinea. By Professor Giglioli. 

 Much scientific work in New Guinea has been done by Italian explorers, while 

 a very great deal still remains to be done, the high chain of mountains running 

 through the length of this great island being yet quite unknown. Professor Giglioli, 

 of Florence, in this paper, gave some account of the labours of Italians in this field 

 of research. The first Italian who ever visited New Guinea was the Count Carlo 

 Vidua di Conzano, in 1830, who went to Triton Bay in a Dutch vessel. In 1869-70 

 Colonel G. di Lenna, a distinguished military officer, and G. Emilio Cerruti reached 

 the south-west coast of Papua, but were treacherously attacked by the natives on 

 the north side of MacCluer Bay. A survey was made by them of Galewo Straits. 

 Dr. Odoardo Beccari and L. M. D'Albertis, in 1872, reached an island in Galewo 

 Straits, whence they made excursions to the mainland of New Guinea. They after- 

 wards explored the Arfak mountains, the home of the birds of paradise; but 

 D'Albertis was attacked with fever and obliged to retire to Sydney. Meanwhile 

 Beccari visited the Aru and Kei Islands. In New Guinea the travellers made very 

 important botanical and zoological collections, including a new bird of paradise. In 

 1875 Dr. Beccari started on his second visit to New Guinea, with generous aid from 

 the town and provincial councils of Genoa. Hiring a schooner at Amboyna, he landed 

 at Dorei-Hain, ascended Mount Morait to a height of 3,500 feet, and obtained a 

 view of the largest river in the northern peninsula of New Guinea. He afterwards 

 reached its banks, and found that it flowed from the Arfak mountains to the north- 

 west coast. Beccari then explored the whole curve of the wide Geelvink Bay, and 

 visited the islands in it. He also again visited the Arfak mountains, attaining a 

 height of 7,000 feet, and ascertained that the highest peaks reached 9,500 feet. 

 He returned with immense natural history collections. Signor Albertis, after a 

 long stay in Australia, set out on a second expedition to New Guinea in 1875, 

 intending to visit the south coast, and to penetrate into the interior by one of the 

 large rivers. He was accompanied by a young Genoese, named Tommasinelli. They 

 reached Yule Island, whence they made several excursions ; but afterwards endured 

 much from sickness and want of food, and Tommasinelli was obliged to return 

 home. After again visiting Australia, D'Albertis joined the English missionaries, 

 Macfarlane and Stone, to make an expedition up the unknown Fly river. That 

 river was ascended for 150 miles. Returning to Sydney, he met with liberal support, 

 and was provided with a steam launch. In this small craft he re-entered the Fly 

 river in May 1876, and ascended it for about 500 miles, planting his flag nearly in 

 the centre of New Guinea. In 1877 he once more entered the Fly liver, but the 

 natives had become hostile, and after encountering great dangers he reached Mount 

 Ernest Island in Torres Straits, on January 1, 1878, having been deserted by all 

 his crew, except the English engineer and a boy. He made veiy large botanical, 

 zoological, and ethnological collections, which are of great value. The Italian 

 explorers in New Guinea have brought home about 5,000 specimens of plants, 

 nearly 100,000 of animals, of which 10,000 birds and 80,000 insects have been 

 deposited by Beccari and D'Albertis in the museums of Genoa and Florence. 



