748 General Notes. [ October, 
Passing by the absence of fishes and crocodiles, which may yet 
be found, we have, for the first time, the association of Pal@osyops 
with Coryphodon, genera hitherto characteristic of the Bridger and 
Wasatch beds respectively. The occurrence of true Lophiodons, 
for the first time exactly determined in America, is an interesting 
circumstance. Bats have not been recognized hitherto in the 
Wasatch formation.—Z. D. Cope. 
GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELS. 
Tue ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL Society’s EXPEDITION TO LAKES 
Nyassa AND TANGANYIKA.—The serious misfortune which befell 
this exploring party in the loss of their leader, Mr. Keith John- 
ston, soon after their departure from the coast,? has not prevented 
the successful execution of the work assigned them. Mr. Thom- 
son, who succeeded to the command, has completed his explora- 
tions, arrived back at Zanzibar and sailed for England about the 
middle of last July. His journey is the most important made in 
Africa during the past year. It is to be regretted that no obser- 
vations could be taken, and that therefore Mr. Thompson’s maps 
are not strictly accurate, but his descriptions, in his reports to the 
Society, of the countries and peoples visited, are clear and full, 
and contain much of great interest. 
After the death of Mr. Johnston on the 28th of June, 1879, the 
Crossing the River Ruaha, one of the chief branches of 
the Lufigi, at about long. 37° E., lat. 8° S., it was found quite un- 
navigable even for canoes, owing to the rapids and rocks. The 
Uranga, the other branch of the Lufigi, is, however thought to 
be navigable for the largest river boats as far as the point visited 
at Mkomokero, in the M’henge country, and probably further. 
The M’henge country is a plain kept constantly damp through- 
out the year at the base of the M’henge mountains, and is neces- 
sarily very fertile. It is about forty miles in length by twenty 
broad, and occupies the angle formed by the junction of the 
Ruaha and Uranga. The le are a superior race to the neigh- 
boring tribes. Their houses are generally built on poles, and are 
of the most peculiar character, in some cases being built on a 
platform with a huge roof (the house being circular) projecting 
1 Edited by Ertis H. YARNALL, Philadelphia, 
2 See NATURALIST for October, 1879, p. 660. 
this result; if the surface is not damp and marshy it becomes a 
desert.’ 
