NOTER AND REVIEWS. 39 



most peculiar and rare of the Central African birds, the shoebill or 

 whale-headed stork, Balaeniceps rex. 



"During 1902," we are told on page 17 of Captain Flower's 

 Report, " the staflE of the Giza Zoological Gardens were entrusted 

 with bringing ninety live animals from the Soudan to Giza, includ- 

 ing specimens for H. H. the Khedive, and certain foreign Zoological 

 Gardens. These animals were : — 



18 Smaller Mammals. 



5 Secretary Birds. 



3 Shoebills. 

 17 Storks, Cranes, Geese, &c. 



7 Tortoises. 



1 Crocodile. 



10 Lions. 

 4 Leopards. 

 7 Cheetahs. 

 4 Giraffes. 



11 Antelopes. 

 2 Nuer Cattle. 

 1 Antbear {Orycteropus 



cethiopiciis). \ 



" Out of the ninety animals eighty-eight reached Giza in safety. 

 The only accidents on the journey were the loss of a fine young 

 male roan antelope and a gray crane, which had both been 

 purchased in Khartoum for the Giza Zoological Gardens, and which 

 both died suddenly near Berber on an exceptionally hot day in 

 May." 



The total number of deaths during 1902 was 196. 



There would appear to be no definite reason m by the grounds 

 near the Colombo Museum should not be utilized for the exhibi- 

 tion of the wild animals of Ceylon. The only mammals living at 

 the Museum at present are a Hog-deer, purchased at the beginning 

 of the year ; a j^oung Sambur doe, presented by the Hon. C. A. 

 Murray in May ; four Lemurs, including a female carrying its 

 young (since dead), purchased in May ; and finally a young por- 

 cupine. 



3. Marine Biological Laboratorij at Guile. — It may be hoped 

 that the small though effective laboratory at Galle, which has served 

 Mr. James Hornell for the last twelve months as a base for his 

 researches into the life-history of the pearl oyster and the nature 

 of pearls, will survive the close of this year's fishery and form the 

 nucleus of a permanent biological station in the Island. 



Marine biological stations or observatories are dotted all over the 

 world, for example, in Italy, France, England, Scotland, Norway, 

 United States, and Japan. The prototype of all is the Stazione 

 Zoologica at Naples, the creation of Dr. Anton Dohrn. The success 

 of all these stations depends at least as much on individual enthu- 

 siasm as on Government support, 



G 25-6a 



