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Show 126 MR. J. T. LAST ON THE BONES OF MPYORNIS. [Feb. 6, fossil remains abound; in fact, judging from personal observation and native information, I should say that these dry lake beds are to be found scattered over the whole of South Central Madagascar, north of the Ong'ulahi, or St. Augustin Eiver, and that they are all more or less fossiliferous. Whilst speaking of this part of the country, I must just call attention to a little district which extends, in a N.E. and S.W. direction, from the town of Salu-avaratsi (situated on the right bank of the Ong'ulahi Eiver, about a mile S.E. from where the Taheza flows into the Ong'ulahi) for about 16 miles to the small river Andranumai, which enters the Ong'ulahi on its left bank. This stretch of country, with a width of about five miles, has a number of hot springs, varying considerably in temperature. Some are so hot that any person or animal entering them would be scalded to death, as the springs at Ambundrumbe and Andranumai; others are deliciously warm, and by bathing in them a kind of vigour seems to be imparted to the whole body. This is especially the case at the warm spring just outside the town of Salu-avaratsi. The water when warm gives off a slight odour, something like iodoform ; but this disappears when the water has cooled, when it is quite clear and pleasant to the taste. The natives always use this water, and no other, for all domestic purposes in preference to the water of the great river which flows close by. At some of the springs a kind of salt is precipitated, as at Salu-avaratsi and Andranumai; but at the hot springs at Beza the water rushes up through the sand, flows away, and leaves no salt marks. Much might be said about this south central district of Madagascar, but time and the scope of m y present paper will not allow it. I think, however, sufficient has been said to show that it will become a country of considerable interest to the palaeontologist and to all lovers of natural science, especially when the country becomes more opened up and travelling can be accomplished with more ease and safety. I will now, with your permission, give some account of my explorations on the south-west coast in search of fossils and other natural-history specimens. Excepting the few objects collected in Manansua district, all the fossil collections I have sent home were obtained on the S.W. coast of Madagascar, between Lambuhara, about lat. 22° 10' S., and St. Augustin's Bay, about lat. 23° 30' S. It may be well, perhaps, to briefly describe this tract of coast-hne. A range of hills extends along the west side of Madagascar at a varying distance from the coast. About St. Augustin's Bay the hiU-sides, in places, descend into the sea. The rocks forming these hills are full of fossil shells. Generally there is an extensive flat, of some miles in width, between the coast-line and the foot of the hills. This flat is very low, probably lower in some places than the high-water line, from which it is separated either by high sand-dunes or stretches of elevated sandstone rocks. There are a number of lakes, varying considerably |