IN the various explorations which the last few years have seen, it must be admitted that the South Pole has been neglected, and its rival, the North Pole, has had it all its own way. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that Dr. Neumayer, with whom the Exploration of the South Polar regions has been a cherished project from his youth, and who for many years has lived in the hope of some day having the privilege granted him of taking part in an expedition on board a German ship that might have the honour of penetrating the South-Polar circle, and clearing up the mystery that lies beyond, will allow this state of things to continue without protest. Since this hope has been time after time frustrated, and because he fears that now it may never be realised, he is determined to do what he can to rouse an active interest in the subject among scientific men. By lectures in various parts of Germany, and otherwise, he endeavoured some little time ago to set afoot an exploring party, whose observations might have been of great use in connection with the now not very distant Transit of Venus, but in this, too, he failed; so that now there remains only the hope that, in connection with the scientific expeditions to the south for the observation of that momentous astronomical event, something may be done towards the realisation of the “darling scheme of his youth.” Hence, to awaken a general interest in antarctic explorations, as well as to show what remains to be done, Dr. Neumayer has reprinted, in the form of a pamphlet, a long article of his from the “Zeitschrift der Gesellschaft für Erdkünde,” on the subject, referring to his numerous lectures and writings on the subject, and has given a brief sketch of the progress of discovery in the South Polar regions, and an admirable summary of the points to which any expedition should direct its attention—to which, anxious to second his efforts, we gladly draw attention.