364 General Notes. [April 
t 
become mere pools of standing water. The water in the main 
stream has not overflowed for three years, while the Kurli arm of 
the delta is becoming filled. 
new glacier called the Mushkelof, discovered in the Khan- 
Tengri group, exceeds in size the well-known Ssmenof Glacier. 
Dr. Bunge and. Baron von Toll have succeeded in their attempt 
to reach the New Siberian Islands. The former explored Lja- 
chow, the latter Kotelny. Earlier the two explored five other 
islands. They returned to the mainland in October last. 
Major Macgregor has contributed to the Proc. Zool. Soc. an 
account of Colonel Woodthorpe’s expedition to the Irawadi. 
The ruling race in the district is that of the Buddistic Kamptis, 
who are Shans, and do not exceed twelve thousand in number. 
poor and almost without clothing. ° 
Australia and Oceanica. Tur New Britain Group.—In the 
p 
cano named The Mother. The latter shelters the harbor of 
Blanche Bay, which is surrounded by volcanoes, some still active., 
Vegetation is most luxuriant, and the forest-trees are covere 
with ferns, orchids, and lycopods. The natives are good agri- 
culturists, making the most possible of the almost inaccessible 
spot to which mutual hostility compels them to resort. Our 
seems to have none worthy of the name. Good harbors have 
recently been discovered at the northwest end of New Ireland, 
