This book gives an extensive account of 'the wonderful and mysterious
forms of animal and vegetable life' encountered by Arthur Adams during
the voyage of HMS Samarang in the years 1843 to 1846. Adams was the
Assistant Surgeon on this expedition led by Captain Sir Edward Belcher
which was charged with surveying Japan and South East Asia including,
amongst others, the Islands of the Indian Archipelago and the China
Seas. His beautifully descriptive personal observations combine with the
formal identification of each species and sub-species to give a detailed
vision of the natural history of the countries visited.