3392 The Zoologist— February, 1873. 



Egypt. Some authors imagine that the ibis was brought into the 

 country by the ancient Egyptians; but this appears to me highly im- 

 probable, as it would be the only instance of an animal not indigenous to 

 Egypt having been made an object of general worship by that people." — 



P. yei. 



The last bird I shall mention is Allen's gallinule {Porphijrio 

 Alleni), so named by Mr. Shelley in honour of its discoverer, the 

 late S. Stafford Allen, a most intelligent, enthusiastic and per- 

 severing ornithologist, who died in Egypt at an early age, sincerely 

 lamented not only by his friends, but by a large circle of his brother 

 naturalists. The bird which now bears his name is of smaller size 

 and more graceful form than the familiar and beautiful violet 

 gallinule {Porphijrio hyacinth inus), which Mr. Shelley met with 

 abundantly in the Fayoom : he never saw P. Alleni, with the ex- 

 ception of an injuiature specimen lent him for description in this 

 work. P. hyacinthinus frequents thick beds of reeds and half- 

 sunken bushes, and, like the common moorhen, is very partial to 

 perching up in them, and if unobserved will remain there motionless 

 until the sportsman has passed, before taking wing. 



A word at parting. The value of these local lists, interspersed 

 with notes as to breeding habits, migration, food, &c., possess more 

 than a passing interest : when made with the care and with the 

 truthfulness which are so evident in Mr. Shelley's volume, they 

 constitute the material out of which Natural History must ever be 

 woven ; they are the warp and woof of some rich fabric the artificer 

 of which has not yet made himself known in the world. 



The coloured plates by Mr. Keulemans are excellent, and possess 

 a seemingly truthful character which greatly enhances their value: 

 by what inspiration he has managed to infuse life into the repre- 

 sentation of bird-skins, I am at a loss to conceive. Of course I am 

 unable to vouch for the attitudes he has given them. I can only 

 say that they look easy and natural. 



Edward Newman. 



Ornithological Notes from Devon, Cornwall, Sjc. 

 By John Gatcombe, Esq. 



September to November, 1872. 

 Guillemot, Starling, Wood Lark, S^c. — It appears that for a short 

 time during the autumnal moult the guillemot must be unable to 



