192 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



structure, climate, vegetation, and population, the last topic 

 being necessarily more or less ethnological, but its ethnology is 

 treated also alone in Part IV., and these sections are all from the 

 pen of Mr. Hedley. Some short notes on rock specimens are 

 contributed by Dr. T. Cooksey. Aves are described by Mr. 

 J. North, but as the ornithological collection consisted of only 

 "six specimens, referable to four well-known Australian species," 

 there was not much to write about. The interesting fact of the 

 Frigate-bird (Fregata aquila) being domesticated by the natives 

 and used as a carrier bird is, however, thoroughly dealt with. The 

 Insecta and Arachnidse have been studied by Mr. W. J. Rainbow, 

 and the Crustacea and Echinodermata by Mr. T. Whitelegge, 

 who has also dealt with the Alcyonaria, Sponges, Madreporaria, 

 Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, Actinozoa, and Vermes. Mammals, Rep- 

 tiles, and Fishes have been detailed by Mr. Edgar R. Waite. 

 "Excluding the birds, the indigenous terrestrial vertebrate fauna 

 appears to be comprised in five species — a Rat and four Lizards." 

 The Enteropneusta, which comprised two species, form a subject 

 for truly biological treatment by Mr. Jas. P. Hill, and the 

 Mollusca are naturally taken in hand by Mr. Hedley, who is the 

 Conchologist of the Australian Museum. 



In a summary of the fauna we read : " Prior to the advent 

 of the Expedition, not more than eight species of animals were 

 recorded in literature from Funafuti " ; these published lists 

 now "embrace about eight hundred and fifty entries." Zoologists 

 will congratulate all concerned on the good work done, and those 

 who study zoo-geography will value the volume. 



The Norwegian North Polar Expedition, 1893-1896. Scientific 



Results. Edited by Fkidtjof Nansen. Vol. I. London, 



New York, Bombay : Longmans, Green & Co. 



Nansen's voyage in the ' Fram ? is well known to the many 



English readers who have perused * Farthest North.' But, 



beyond geographical exploration, natural science was also deeply 



interested in this boreal expedition, and the results achieved are 



now receiving publication in a handsome and complete form, of 



which the first volume is before us. 



