THE ZOOLOGIST. 



THIRD SERIES. 



Vol. XVIL] SEPTEMBER, 1893. [No. 201 



THE GEEAT BAKRIER REEF OF AUSTRALIA. 



The Great Barrier Coral Reef of Australia, the marvellous 

 structure and extent of which were first made known through 

 the explorations of Captain Cook, is one of the wonders of 

 the universe. Its linear measurement is no less than 1250 miles, 

 beginning with its northern origin in Torres Straits, about 9j° 

 south latitude, in close proximity to New Guinea, and thence 

 stretching away as far as Lady Elliot Island, the northernmost true 

 coral islet in the system, situated in the parallel of 24°, some- 

 what south of the bold mainland promontory known as Bustard 

 Head. Its entire area lies within the territorial jurisdiction of 

 Queensland, of which colony it constitutes one of the most 

 valuable possessions. 



Some idea of the monetary importance to Queensland of this 

 great reef may be gained from the fact that raw material from it 

 to the value of over £100,000 is annually obtained and exported 

 from the colony. In the opinion of Mr. Saville Kent, who has 

 lately published a splendidly illustrated quarto volume dealing 

 with this great reef and its products,* this sum probably repre- 

 sents but a fractional part of what it will be worth when the 

 prolific resources of the region have been fully developed. The 



* ' The Great Barrier Reef of Australia ; its products and potentialities.' 

 By W. Saville Kent, F.L.S., F.Z.S., Commissioner of Fisheries to the 

 Government of West Australia, and late of Tasmania and Queensland. 

 4to, pp. 387. With 48 photographs and 16 chromo -lithographs. London 

 W. H. Allen & Co. 1893. 



ZOOLOGIST. — SEPT. 1893. 2 c 



