4892 THe ZooLocisTt—APRIL, 1876. 
be obtained in India, Egypt offered attractions equally great to the sports- 
man and naturalist, Mr. Gurney spoke of the enormous number of ducks 
found in some of the lakes,—flocks of which he described as looking like 
islands whilst in the water, and in the air like the smoke from the funnel 
of some great steamboat,—also of the great numbers of flamingoes, which 
‘rose like a roseate cloud in the air. He gave an amusing account of a 
night expedition for the purpose of taking coots with a casting-net—a 
peculiar mode of fowling practised by the natives. In giving a list of 
various naturalists who have written on the birds of Egypt, Mr. Gurney 
said he hoped ere long to add a work of his own to those already pub- 
lished. Whilst speaking of migration, the lecturer stated his belief that 
some of our summer migrants amongst the Insessores may be considered 
to breed in Southern Africa in winter, as well as in England in the summer. 
Perhaps the most important fact discovered was that of the lesser white- 
fronted goose (Anser minutus, Naum.) in Egypt, this bird having hitherto’ 
been regarded solely as a northern species. On the monuments in Egypt 
the Egyptian goose is frequently figured, as well as the sacred ibis: the 
latter species, if it ever existed there as an indigenous bird, has—like the 
hippopotamus, the papyrus, and the lotus—receded before the advance of 
civilization ; but the former is still an inhabitant of the districts in which 
its outline is so faithfully and minutely portrayed. ‘To the shame of our 
countrymen, many Goths calling themselves ‘ gentlemen” sadly mutilate 
and deface the pictures and-decorations of the ancient tombs by writing or 
scratching their names upon these interesting records—a practice which 
cannot be too deeply deplored. With regard to the birds of prey, 
Mr. Gurney stated that they abounded greatly, in consequence of the 
unlimited supply of food in the shape of countless hordes of semi-wild 
pigeons and other birds which exist. ‘Kites and vultures also abounded, 
and form the sanitary police of the country, for the performance of which 
useful but disgusting service they are highly valued, and he believed that it 
was sight, and not scent, which guided them to their prey. Many writers 
have identified the sacred hawk of ancient Egypt with the kestrel; this 
Mr. Gurney thought was a mistake, and that the lanner falcon is in reality 
the bird depicted: in this opinion Mr. Gurney’s father shared. After a 
notice of the numerous and beautiful birds of the heron tribe, Mr. Gurney 
briefly alluded to the Entomology of the country, which appears to consist 
chiefly of fleas, flies and mosquitoes, and concluded with a spirited account 
of the first crocodile seen by his party, and their all but successful attempt 
to bag the tough-skinned monster. 
The President proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Gurney for his interesting 
lecture, which was carried unanimously.—‘ Norfolk Chroniele.’ 
i 
