new goatsucker {Podargus superciliaris) ; and a ground pigeon with a long and powerful bill (Henicophaps albifrons) ; 

 besides one Ornithoptera and several singularly beautiful Ericimdas (Sospita and Taxila), a number of Lycsenidas of a 

 gorgeous character, and the beautiful Pieris (Thyca aruna) of Hewitson. 



_ It may be said that comparatively little is yet known of the physiographical and zoographical character of the 

 great island of New Guinea. Up to the present time, though some important work has been done by explorers and 

 naturalists in the island, very little more than the fringe or coast districts have really been properly examined ; and this 

 applies more especially to the S. Eastern peninsula-like tract of land, extending say from East Cape and Samarai to 

 Holnicote Bay on the Eastern or N. Eastern side, and to the mouth of the Fly River and a comparatively short distance 

 on the Western or S. Western side on British territory. After that, with the exception of a very small portion of 

 German New Guinea round about the Finisterre Mountains, and a slightly larger part of the North-western or Dutch 

 portion of the island, the map of the country presents about as blank an appearance as a map of the interior of Africa 

 did less than one hundred years ago ; for Terra Incognita may well be written therein. If so, what a prospect is thereby 

 opened up to us yet of wonderful discoveries in animal and vegetable life ! a prospect which appears by no means too 

 hopeful, if we are to judge by the truly marvellous and glorious discoveries that are continually being made, with each 

 extension of an intelligent and enthusiastic investigation of its products. 



The Finisterre Mountains, among which Sattleberg Mountain is situated, are an important group, the highest of 

 which is 11,391 feet high. Their position is about 145 9' to 147 10' East long., and 5 6' to 6° 3' South lat. C On the 

 Western and Southern sides of these mountains, a small river extends from the coast near Constantine Harbour, in 

 the German Astrolabe Bay,* with a sinuous course, up a rather narrow valley to the foot of this mountain range — a 

 distance probably, allowing for its windings, of about 70 or 75 miles. The name of this river is the Kabenau. The 

 Finisterre Mountains are united at their north-western point— following the windings of the Kabenau, with a narrow 

 range running parallel to the Maclay coast till they meet the Cromwell Hills (1,710 feet high) ; these in their turn are 

 succeeded by the Rawlinson Range, which look out over the Huon Gulf, whose waters wash the southern shore of 

 Kaiser Wilhelm's land. A small stream which divides the Rawlinson Range from Kraetke Mountains (9,843 to 11,403 

 feet high) runs down and empties itself into the Gulf near Port Parsee. This is the Markham River. Four other 

 mountain ranges follow, trending westward and northward, the Zoller, Otto, Bismark, and Kuper Ranges (the last 1,969 

 feet high) ; all these are crowded together, with several narrow valleys, into an amphitheatre-like space of about 165 by 

 no miles roughly considered — a very respectable group of mountains nevertheless; and already proved to contain 

 some wonderful lepidoptera and other glorious things. This space is probably the best surveyed of the German part 

 of the island. 



On the southern side of the Island, in the British possessions, from a point a little west of the Bismark 

 Mountains to the extreme south and east of the island, the whole coast is mountainous, range following range down to 

 East Cape and China Straits, arranged in the following order: — From N. West to S. and S.-East — The 

 Albert Victor Mountains, where the Jubilee River has its source ; the Albert Range ; Mount Yule (10,046 feet high) ; 

 Mount Victoria (13,121 feet high) ; Mount Nisbet ; Mount Obree (10,246 feet) ; Mount Brown (7,947 feet high) ; Mount 

 Clarence (6,330 feet high) ; Mount Suckling, east of the latter (11,226 feet high) ; Mount Thompson (5,901 feet 

 high) ; and Mount Samarai (4,478 feet high). These may be regarded as really one extensive range, unbroken in their 

 course, but having special names given to their higher peaks ; and altogether they constitute the backbone of the great 

 Peninsula, running down nearly midway, though rather more westward than eastward, for the greater part of its course. 

 The approximate length of this mountain system would be (not reckoning its sinuations) about 560 miles. The exten- 

 sive portions of the island north-west, and south-west of this range, within British territory, and for 408 miles and more 

 to west and north in Dutch territory would appear to be flat land, pierced for nearly 260 miles in one part by the 

 Charles Louis Mountains ; but this is only because the country has not yet been sufficiently explored to enable 

 geographers to better understand its physical condition. But we shall have more to say about this part of the 

 island in the 2nd vol. of this work. Probably the Great Victor Emmanuel Range of Mountains, which in the German 

 territory commences about 40 miles from the east coast opposite Vulkan island, and stretches away almost in a straight 

 line Westwards to some distance within the Dutch line, will be found, when the country is better known, to unite with 

 the Charles Louis Mountains advancing from Kapia, West to East (all in Dutch territory, with peaks whose heights 

 are respectively 9,515, 11,912, 13,786, and 16,733 feet), and so to form a natural boundary line, dividing two zoological 

 provinces. The north and north-west portions of the island, Tana Beran, and Onin (themselves almost separated into 

 distinct islands, the first by the McChiver inlet, and the second by a narrow channel running northward from this inlet 

 to Kamraub), and the more eastern part of the country towards Kapia, are better known — though only compara- 

 tively : and it is a rich zoological district, in which Lepidoptera (and Ornithoptera) are by no means poorly represented. 

 In the Arfak Mountains and at Amberbaken, on the north-east coast, some good work done, leads us to hope for still 

 better things in the future. These districts are all very mountainous — the highest point yet ascertained being in the 

 Arfak range, 9,521 feet. Beyond the western and north-western end of New Guinea the sea is rich in islands of great 

 zoological importance, even to our particular portion of the subject — several of which Wallace visited and collected in, 

 such as Wagieu, Salawatti, Mysol, &c. Beyond the south-eastern end of New Guinea and almost parallel with the 

 eastern coast for 100 miles, are numerous islands and islets, the most important being Fergusson (or Moratau) a moun- 

 tainous island (5,906 feet high at its highest). The D'Entrecasteau Archipelago (from whence have been brought some 

 of the most beautiful butterflies, especially among the Lycsenidse, that have yet been discovered), and a multitude of 

 islets and rocks crowd the sea as far S.W. as the Louisiade Archipelago. 



♦There are two Bays of this name— the English. Astrolabe Bay being on the Southern side of the Island, near Port Moresby. 



