J 
466 The American Naturalist. [May, ' 
thousand feet, but as they are clothed with dense forest and impenetra- — 
ble jungle, with few inhabited or cultivated spots, the passage is very — 
difficult. The political officer of Assam, Mr. Needham, after having 
had experience of one route, tried that by which in past times the 
Burmese armies used to find their way to conquer Assam. This leads 
across the Patkoi, among hills below 3000 feet in height, to Nongyong — 
‘Lake, and then via the Loglai to the Singpho village of Ham Yung, — 
thence to Ningbu, three short marches from Maingkhwan, ; 
Australasia.—AusTRALIAN ExPpLoration.—The news of Austra- — 
lian exploration is always tame and little varied, like the aspect of — 
that “ scrubby ” interior. Dr. Lindsay and party crossed the space 
between the courses of Forrest and of Giles. They found the Queen — 
Victoria spring on the latter course nearly dry, and the country seemed — 
to have had no rain for two years, Various bushes were found, alsoa — 
gum-tree forest which extended into 8. Australia. From the roots of 
certain mallee trees, which the natives know by experience, they pro- — 
cure a quantity of pure water. ‘ 
In South Australia the country between lakes Eyre and Amadeus has 
been explored, and seems to be rather more varied than most of the — 
interior, as several ranges of hills, the Musgrave, Everard, Mann, ete, — 
have been found, rising four to five thousand feet above the sea. The ; 
Musgrave hills are of red granite, which appears to predominate inthe — 
other ranges. Spinifex, a few pines, stunted gums and mulga, are the — 
prevalent trees, but between the Musgrave and Mann ranges is 4 
growth of large casuarinas, 
In West Australia the country between Northam and Eucla has 
White gum and gimlet-wood were the most conspicuous trees. 
land seems rich in minerals. The natives seen were of much 
physique than those which frequent the towns. 
New Gurnea.—Sir W, Macgregor continues his work of vis 
the various tribes of British New Guinea with the aim of bringing the 
to acquiesce in the government and laws of Great Britain. G 
progress has already been made in this matter, so that already 
