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Show 302 DISCUSSION O N T H E F A U N A O F [May 5, the western bank of Lake Nyassa belongs to British Central Africa, and I suppose also the western half of the lake, from the end of which the border-line runs irregularly westward to the base of Lake Tanganyika, thus embracing the whole of what is called the " Tanganyika Plateau." On the north-west and west the boundaries of British Central Africa have still to be definitely settled. But it is quite understood, I believe, that lakes Moero aud Bangweolo and the adjoining lands to the east come within the sphere of British influence, and that the Barotsi Highlands and the great valley of the Loangwa and its eastern tributaries are also within the area of " British Central Africa." To govern this enormous territory of perhaps some 500,000 square miles in extent, Lord Salisbury has selected our Fellow, Mr. Henry Hamilton Johnston, C.B., well known to science for his explorations both in the Western and in the Eastern Tropics of the African Continent. Mr. Johnston has already departed from England for the scene of action. But he leaves behind him Mr. Bertram L. Sclater, R.E., the Chief of his Staff, and Mr. Alexander Whyte, F.Z.S., his Naturalist, and for the benefit and instruction of these gentlemen, who have favoured us with their company to-night, I venture to bring before you a few remarks on the Zoology of this part of Africa, chiefly in order to show how little we know and how much we want to know, and to invite you to a discussion on the subject. Mr. Johnston informs us that he wishes to make a thorough examination of the Fauna, Flora, and Geology of British Central Africa; that is, as already pointed out, of the shores and waters of Lakes Nyassa, Tanganyika, Shirwa, Bangweolo, Moero, and of the Rivers Zambesi, Loangwa, Shire, & c , and of the country generally comprised between the limits of the left bank of the Zambesi, the east shore of Lake Nyassa, and the southern watershed of the Congo. I am sure we shall be all glad to help him in such a laudable undertaking, and that he means to attempt what be says is shown by his engagement of Mr. Whyte as Naturalist to his expedition, and by his having supplied Mr. Whyte with all the apparatus necessary for this purpose. The large area just described as British Central Africa will be divided for administrative purposes, I believe, into three sections :- (1) Nyassa-land, comprising the eastern portion, lying within the basin of Lake Nyassa aud the Shire ; (2) Bangweolo-land, comprising the north-western portion draining mostly into the Congo ; and (3) Barotsi-land, comprising the south-western portion drained by the upper affluents of the Zambesi. Of the two last-named divisions it may be stated at once that, as regards their zoology, they are absolutely terrce incognitce. They have, in fact, as yet only been visited by a few adventurous travellers, who have not had time nor occasion to attend to natural science. As regards Nyassa-land the case is a little different; a certain number of Europeans, chiefly for missionary purposes, have been settled in several parts of this territory for the past thirty years, and a certain number of zoological specimens have |