NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. 373 



Figures of these are given, as also of a third, Phryniscus elegans, 

 Boulenger, a prettily variegated species which was found on 

 Tanti at a height of 1890 feet. 



Lastly we must not omit to notice that curious little siluroid 

 fish Cyclopium cyclopum, Humboldt, of which no less than fifty- 

 one specimens were brought home by Mr. Whymper (p. 255) to 

 settle the question whether more than one species had been de- 

 scribed under different names by previous writers. These were 

 submitted to the late Surgeon-Major Francis Day, and the results 

 of his examination of them are detailed in the " Supplementary 

 Appendix " (vol. ii. p. 137), where a full-page plate containing 

 three figures of the natural size is given, the verdict being that 

 all the specimens are referable to one species which is subject to 

 considerable individual variation. 



From the foregoing remarks it will be perceived that while 

 Mr. Whymper had chiefly at heart the advancement of geogra- 

 phical science, he by no means neglected the opportunities which 

 presented themselves for acquiring some knowledge of the fauna 

 and flora of the great mountain range which he explored. On 

 the contrary, considering the difficulties to be overcome, the alti- 

 tude at which most of the work had to be effected, and the 

 necessity for confining within very narrow limits the amount of 

 baggage to be carried, Mr. Whymper may well be congratulated 

 both on the extent and the variety of his collections. 



If from the geographer's point of view we have left unnoticed 

 the most important results of his journey, it is not for lack of 

 appreciation of their value, but because, having but limited space 

 at disposal, we have preferred to emphasize those points which 

 naturally possess the greatest interest for our readers, and are 

 least likely to be dwelt upon elsewhere. 



The Naturalist in La Plata. By W. H. Hudson. 8vo, with 

 illustrations. London : Chapman & Hall. 1892. 



In this volume we have another record of South American 

 travel, though of a very different kind to that just noticed. 

 While Mr. W 7 hymper was scaling the highest peaks of the Andes 

 in an attempt to solve certain problems having no immediate 

 connection with zoology, Mr. Hudson was dwelling in the plains 



