Vol. xix.] 4 



Carruthers, and Dr. A. F. R. Wollaston as Medical Officer. 

 Having thoroughly searched the Mupuku Valley, where 

 they passed several months, they moved their quarters to the 

 southern end of the range and subsequently to the western 

 slopes of Ruwenzori, which is in the territory of the Congo 

 Free State. Here, however, owing to the hostility of the 

 natives, they were forced to bring their work to a close. 

 Mr. Legue has returned to England direct, but the other 

 four members of the Expedition have resolved to go home 

 down the Congo in two parties, reaping fresh collections 

 on their way. We may expect them in England again about 

 the middle of next year. 



A third African Scientific Expedition now in progress is 

 that of the Geodetic Survey of North-eastern Rhodesia, to 

 which Mr. S. A. Neave was appointed Naturalist at the 

 beginning of 1904. Mr. Neave returned to England in 

 March last, and brought home a good series of objects of 

 Natural History from this little-known district, which has 

 never previously been explored. Amongst them are about 

 750 birds, of which we may shortly expect an account. 



A fourth important Expedition in Africa which should be 

 mentioned is that of Mr. G. L. Bates, who, after a short 

 rest at home, has returned to his old quarters in the German 

 Colony of Cameroon, and has already commenced to send 

 home large additions to those valuable collections in every 

 branch of Natural History with which he has previously 

 furnished us. Dr. Bowdler Sharpe has already received, I 

 believe, many additions to the series of birds described in 

 his papers on Mr. Bates's collections published in 'The Ibis.' 



But the most noteworthy fact connected with the Orni- 

 thology of the Ethiopian Region that has lately occurred is 

 the completion of Dr. Reichenow's great work on the Birds 

 of Africa. That large additions remain still to be made to 

 the list of 2981 African species recorded in his three volumes 

 there can be no doubt. But here we find a solid basis on 

 which future writers on African Bird-life may build a super- 

 structure, and which is at present the principal work on the 

 subject. 



