diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py b/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
index 7e143b569..c304c6825 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik/__init__.py
@@ -64,11 +64,17 @@ class _Projection(Projection,_injector):
     return forward(pt,self)
   def inverse(self,pt):
     return inverse(pt,self)
-    
+
+class _Datasource(Datasource,_injector):
+  def describe(self):
+    return Describe(self)
+
 def Datasource (**keywords):
     return CreateDatasource(keywords)
 
 
+
+
 #register datasources
 from mapnik import DatasourceCache
 DatasourceCache.instance().register_datasources('%s' % inputpluginspath)
diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik/ogcserver/common.py b/bindings/python/mapnik/ogcserver/common.py
index 64548ecbb..5330333bd 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik/ogcserver/common.py
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik/ogcserver/common.py
@@ -255,12 +255,12 @@ class CRS:
 
     def Inverse(self, x, y):
         if not self.proj:
-            self.proj = Projection(['init=%s' % str(self).lower()])
+            self.proj = Projection('init=%s' % str(self).lower())
         return self.proj.Inverse(x, y)
 
     def Forward(self, x, y):
         if not self.proj:
-            self.proj = Projection(['init=%s' % str(self).lower()])
+            self.proj = Projection('init=%s' % str(self).lower())
         return self.proj.Forward(x, y)
 
 class CRSFactory:
@@ -379,4 +379,4 @@ class BaseExceptionHandler:
         fh = StringIO()
         im.save(fh, PIL_TYPE_MAPPING[params['format']])
         fh.seek(0)
-        return Response(params['format'], fh.read())
\ No newline at end of file
+        return Response(params['format'], fh.read())
diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik_datasource.cpp b/bindings/python/mapnik_datasource.cpp
index f60fcd698..bb20e4188 100644
--- a/bindings/python/mapnik_datasource.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik_datasource.cpp
@@ -20,11 +20,15 @@
  *
  *****************************************************************************/
 //$Id$
-
+// stl
+#include <sstream>
+// boost
 #include <boost/python.hpp>
+// mapnik
 #include <mapnik/envelope.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/datasource.hpp>
 #include <mapnik/datasource_cache.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/feature_layer_desc.hpp>
 
 namespace  
 {
@@ -47,6 +51,20 @@ namespace
         
         return mapnik::datasource_cache::create(params);
     }
+    
+    std::string describe(boost::shared_ptr<mapnik::datasource> const& ds)
+    {
+        std::stringstream ss;
+        if (ds)
+        {
+            ss << ds->get_descriptor() << "\n";
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            ss << "Null\n";
+        }
+        return ss.str();
+    }
 }
 
 void export_datasource()
@@ -64,5 +82,6 @@ void export_datasource()
              "These vary depending on the type of data source.")
         ;
     
+    def("Describe",&describe);
     def("CreateDatasource",&create_datasource);
 }