342 NATURAL HISTORY OF AFRICA. 



Stephens), so remarkable for its strong attachment to it# 

 young. It was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, and 

 Us sculptured figure is still recognisable among the hiero- 

 glyphical representations of the Theban temples. It also 

 occurs in the southern regions of Africa, and has not un- 

 frequently been imported into Britain to beautify the waters 

 of our pleasure-grounds ; but the love of liberty is deeply 

 implanted in tliis bird, and it is with difficulty that even the 

 young, born and bred in northern climates, are retained for 

 a continuance in a state of satisfied domestication. 



The crimson-billed sheldrake {Tadoina erythrorhyncka) 

 inhabits the Cape of Good Hope ; and a species of musk- 

 duck {Anas Nilotica of Gmelin) is found in Upper Egypt. 

 It is easily tamed, and lives on good terms with other poultry. 



From the preceding summary, the student of ornithology 

 will be able to form a sufficiently correct idea of the pre- 

 vailing features which characterize this branch of science 

 in Africa ; and, by comparing the present sketch with those 

 which we purpose to exhibit of othercountriesin the future 

 volumes of our series, he will likewise be enabled to esti- 

 mate the peculiarities by which the continent in question is 

 distinguished from all the other quarters of the globe. 



CHAPTER XX. 



Naiurai History of the Reptiles^ Fishes, Shells^ Insects, tfc. 

 of Africa. 



Intermediate between the birds and fishes are the reptile 

 race, divided by naturalists into four principal branches, the 

 Chelonian, the Saurian, the Ophidian, and the Batrachian 

 reptiles. Of all these, Africa, " fruitful in monsters," pro- 

 duces some remarkable examples. 



In regard to the geograi)hical distribution of reptiles, the 

 first and most general observ^ation is, that they augment 

 in number as we advance towards the equatorial regions. 

 While Sweden possesses scarcely a dozen lizards and 



