6g 



meets a third range, running north and south (between io° and g° N. lat., and io° and g° W. long. 1 ), extending to the 

 sources of the Joliba. 



From Cape Verga to Alligator Point the coast is generally flat and low, formed into numerous islands by the 

 man}' branches into which the river Pongas divides before reaching the sea. The coast rises soon after at Tumbo Point, 

 south of Alligator Point, until it attains an elevation of 2,910 feet at Mount Kakulimah, and Mount Soomba 1,705 feet. 

 From thence for a hundred miles due south to Sierra Leone it is once more very low and flat, and consists of numerous 

 islands. Between Sierra Leone and Yawry Bay it is again high and rocky ; but the eastern shores of the latter bay, 

 and those extending to Sherboro Island are once more low, flat, and subject to change. The greater part of this long 

 coast is chiefly a mangrove swamp — so unhealthy at one time that Tulloch, in his "Report on the Health of our Troops," 

 informs us that from the impenetrable fog, the immense rainfall from May or June to October or November, fevers of 

 every type, dysentery, liver complaints, and other diseases raged (a few years ago) to such an extent that from half to 

 three-fourths of our troops perished annually. This was from iSig to 1836. Since then, however, matters have greatly 

 improved, as happily is the case all along the West Coast of Africa, though this is still not saying much. With the 

 exception of Kakulimah and the Soomba Mountains the western portion of Sierra Leone is a low plain extending more 

 than 100 miles inland. This plain is very level, except in a few places, and during the rainy season is converted in 

 many parts into swamps ; when the waters have retired these tracts are covered mostly by tall, grassy jungle 8 or 10 

 feet high. In other parts are extensive meadows and intermittent forest growths. Insect life is pretty abundant in 

 these districts; and on the sides of the mountain ranges, and in the more arboreal localities, both Antimachus and 

 Zalmoxis should abound. 



An almost continuous range of mountains runs South and North across the country between ii° and 12 W. 

 long, but they sre pierced by the rivers that originate further east, and in an east and west direction have hewn out 

 large and wide valleys. These valleys are exceedingly fertile ; the base of many of the hills are clothed with trees, 

 mostly of a few kinds ; and the higher slopes of the hills to their summits with evergreen groves and palm trees. 

 The valleys being watered by numerous rivulets which are continually bringing down fresh soil from the hills, are 

 exceedingly fertile, and the whole region is capable of supplying most of the needs of man and of his domesticated animals. 

 The remainder or more eastern part of the country for about 80 or go miles east and west, is more level, with undulating 

 surface, in parts broken by deep ravines and numerous rivulets which form a series of what may be called canons, as 

 they are sunken considerably below the general level. All the valleys and lower depressions (the elevation never 

 exceeds 300 feet above sea level) are remarkable for fertility — caused by the vegetable soil being very rich with an 

 admixture of iron-clay and sand. The heat of the country is great all the year round, being generally over 8o° Fahr., 

 but greatest just before the setting in of the rainy season — though the heat of the hilly country is at least 5 less. Wild 

 animals and insects abound, as might be expected. 



The province of Angola, where Zalmoxis has been taken, is a large tract of country extending longitudinally 

 southward from the Congo country almost to Mossamedes on the 16th parallel of S. latitude ; and from about 14 to 

 ig° of E. longitude ; in one part nearly to the bank of the Zambesi. Within its area (which is not as exactly certain 

 as could be desired, though it must be at least 18,000 to 20,000 square miles) are included Loanda, of which the coast 

 town St. Paulo de Loanda is the capital, Benguella or Benguela, Lovale and the Lobale river districts, Amboella, and 

 part of Mossamedes. It will be seen, by reference to a map, that all the western part of the country for about 5 degrees 

 of longitude is exceedingly mountainous ; and that the whole of the country is well drained by a multitude of important 

 rivers, and their branches especially as we advance eastwards, where the country becomes lower or flatter. The land 

 appears to be encroaching on the sea, especially along the coast of Loanda. The Isle of Loanda and Cape Palmareinho 

 are supposed to have been formed in this way. The land thus gained is entirely of an alluvial and level character. 

 The vegetation of the country is on a scale of magnificence quite equal to the grandest of tropical countries ; the animal 

 life is as varied and abundant as in any part of Africa ; — most of the larger creatures, many species of monkeys, an 

 immense number of species of birds, — including many parrots, — lizards, two or three species of crocodiles, and an endless 

 list of insects of all orders are among the denizens of the land. The waters, both inland, and on the coast litoral, are 

 also rich in fish and Crustacea. The rivers often swarm with fish, many of which, like the birds and insects are of 

 glorious beauty. It will be understood that the variety of vegetation must therefore be equally great and interesting. 

 As the physical geography of this country in many respects greatly resembles that of the Congo States, it is quite likely 

 that the two species of the genus Drurya range over the whole country. Antimachus, by its rapid and high flight being 

 less likely to be often seen than is Zalmoxis. 



2. THE GENUS SCHOENBERGIA. 



The three species of this Genus are geographically removed some considerable distance from each other, if we 

 are to judge from the material that has thus far come to hand. German New Guinea, the home of Sch. Paridisea is 

 more than 1,200 miles south-east of the island of Waigeu, the home of Sch. Tithonus ; an island which Wallace visited, and 

 in which he spent several months collecting — an island which, though he did not obtain such fine collections as in other 

 districts he explored, nevertheless supplied him with the beautiful Red Bird of Paradise (Paradisea rubra) and "the 

 lovely little dove among the birds (Ptilonopus pulchellus) ;" the rare New Guinea Kite (Henicopernis longicauda) ; a large 



