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ANALYSES OF BOOKS. 
Stanford's Compendium of Geography and Travel . Based on 
Hellwald’s “ Die Erde und Ihre Vcelker.” “Australasia.” 
Edited and extended by Alfred R. Wallace, F.R.G.S. 
With Ethnological Appendix by A. H. Keane, M.A.I. 
London : E. Stanford. 
This volume, unlike the rest of the series to which it belongs, 
consists almost entirely of new matter, the account of Malaysia, 
Australia, and the Pacific Islands, as found in Hellwald’s original 
work, being far too meagre. It can scarcely be necessary to say 
that to bring up the treatise to a level with the expectations and 
the wants of the British public no more competent editor than 
Mr. A. R. Wallace could have been found, specially qualified as 
he is by prolonged travels in a large portion of the islands 
described. 
The work embraces an account of the Malay Archipelago, — 
taking the term in its widest sense, — of Australia proper, of 
New Zealand, and of the island-groups extending to the east- 
ward more than half-way across the Pacific. These regions, 
though in aftual land-area little exceeding Europe, extend in 
longitude over more than one-third the circumference of the 
globe, and' present diversities both of physical features and of 
organic life hardly to be found elsewhere. 
After a general survey of the peculiarities— geographical, geo- 
logical, botanical, and ethnological— of this extensive region, the 
author proceeds to a systematic account of the several islands, 
beginning with Australia proper as the largest and most im- 
portant. As may be expedled, the natural history of the country 
is described briefly, yet with great care and evident accuracy. 
It may interest the reader to know that one species of Eucalyptus , 
growing about 40 miles to the east of Melbourne, is the largest 
tree in the world, surpasssing even the far-famed Wellingtonias 
(Sequioas) of California. A fallen specimen of the length of 
480 feet has been aftually measured. Such a tree, if it could 
grow in St. Paul’s Churchyard, would wave its crest high over 
the cross at the summit of the cathedral. It is remarkable that 
the alpine flora of Australia contains thirty-eight species not 
merely representative of, but actually identical with, forms now 
occurring in Europe. The plants of Australia are by no means 
so exceptional as its animals. No widely distributed, order is 
absent from Australia, and, on the other hand, no leading Aus- 
tralian order is wanting in the rest of the world. Sir Joseph D. 
Hooker, in his interesting treatise on the Flora of Australia, 
suggests that its antecedents may have inhabited tin area to the 
