400 ME. p. L. SCLATEK OS EGYPTIAN MENAGERIES. [May 21, 



May 21, 1895. 



Lt.-Col. H. H. Godwin- Austen, F.R.S., Vice-President, 

 in the Chair. 



Mr. Sclater made some remarks on the Zoological Institutions 

 which he had recently visited in Cairo. These were the new 

 Zoological Garden at Gizeh, the Zoological Collection in the 

 Medical School at Cairo, and the Ostrich JFarm at Matariyeh. 



Part of the former Palace-Garden at Gizeh had recently been 

 appropriated by the Egyptian Government as a Zoological Garden, 

 of which a young Englishman, Mr. Jennings Bramley, had been 

 appointed Manager. The Institution was at present quite in its 

 infancy, but had the great advantage of a beautiful garden of 

 20 acres, well stocked with fine trees and shrubs, and furnished 

 with an abundant water-supply. The small collection already 

 made consisted principally of well-kno^'n Egyptian animals, with 

 a certain number of Oriental species, obtained from ships passing 

 through the Suez Canal. 



Amongst the Egyptian animals, besides the ordinary Gazella 

 dorcas, of which there were many specimens, Mr. Sclater had 

 examined individuals of both sexes of another Gazelle, said to have 

 been obtained in the Libyan Desert. This belonged to the group 

 with long straight horns, allied to G. cuvieri and G. leptoceros 

 (cf. Brooke, P.Z. S. 1873, p. 543). Mr. Sclater was endeavouring 

 to obtain more information respecting it, but there could be no 

 doubt of the existence of a second species of Gazelle in Egypt. 



Amongst the birds in the gardens, Mr. Sclater had noticed two 

 fine specimens of Eiippell's GrifEon {Gyps ruepjjelli), said also to 

 have been obtained from the "Western Desert. This species was 

 not recognized in Shelley's ' Birds of Egypt ; ' and it was rather 

 surprising to meet with it so far north. 



The only zoological collection in Cairo was that of the Govern- 

 ment School of Medicine, under the care of Dr. Innes. It was at 

 present in an undeveloped condition, but contained a series of 

 Egyptian animals along with others from various parts of the 

 world, intended originally for educational purposes. It was hoped 

 with Dr. Anderson's promised assistance, and aid from other 

 quarters, to make considerable additions to the Egyptian series. 

 There could be no doubt that the capital of Egypt ought to contain 

 a good exhibition of the native animals. 



The Ostrich Earm at Matariyeh, near the Khedive's palace at 

 Kubbeh, was, in Mr. Sclater 's opinion, one of the most interesting 

 sights in Cairo. It was said to have been commenced with some 

 twenty birds from two sources about fifteen years ago, and now 

 contained about 1400 Ostriches of different ages. The birds were 

 placed in small compartments enclosed by mud walls ten feet high, 

 and arranged according to age, both sexes being kept together. 

 After four or five years, when fully adult and showing signs of 



