The Oasis of Figuig. — France has intended to annex the oasis 
of Figuig, which is situated near Algeria, south of the mountains of 
Maiz and Beni-Sniir. This territory is in Morocco and j^ays a small 
tribute to the Sultan, but is practically independent. The peojjtle 
are freebooters and their excursions have given the French govern- 
ment the pretext for claiming damages against the Sultan of Morocco. 
The last governor of Figuig was a fanatic Musselman and stirred up 
against the infidel rulers of Algeria all the Arabs under his juris- 
diction. Three employes of the Algerian government were taken 
prisoners, and the French, after occupying with their forces the rail- 
road fom Saida to Ain Sefra, have procured the dismissal of the 
governor of Figuig. 
Geographical News.— The Philippine Islands, although prob- 
ably the most valuable of Spain's remaining possessions, and although 
their productions are exceedingly rich and varied, have not hitherto 
attracted emigrants from the mother country. It is now proposed 
to choose for colonization the Island of Paragua, not more than a 
thousandth part of which is at present occupied by settlers, the re- 
mainder being the exclusive property of the State. The forest riches 
of Paragua are immense, the species including some that are not 
known in the rest of the archipelago. Among these is Fragosa 
peregrina. 
Without the province of Algeria or the protectorate of Tunis, 
the French "colonies" or possessions, scattered over the four 
quarters of the world, contain an area of more than two millions of 
square kilometres, and a population of rather more than twenty-two 
millions, without including that of the Congo and Gaboon territory. 
The colony of Senegal contains about 805,000 square kilometres 
and that north of the Congo at least 600,000. 
GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY. 
The Vertebrate Fauna of the Equus Beds.— While the 
Equus Beds are found at various locaHties in North America, the 
greater number of characteristic species of Vertebrata have been ob- 
tained in three regions. First, the Oregon Desert; second the 
Country of the Nueces, 3. W. Texas ; third the Valley of Mexico. I 
give lists of the species found at these and their localities. 
Recent species are indicated by a * 
I. The species found in the Oregon Desert are the following: 
