1908.] ON AN EXPEDITION TO THE BIRKET-EL-QUE.UN, 3 



marked specimen was killed. In the pattern of the markings 

 this skin appears to be altogether unique. The most striking' 

 featvire is a kind of network of broad yellow lines commencing on 

 the head in a large, somewhat diamond-shaped area and con- 

 tinued all down the back in meshes of smaller size. Within each 

 mesh is a large black-bordered patch, containing a central area, 

 darker than the big network, iipon which is a variable number of 

 black spots. In many instances the borders of the patches are 

 incomplete. The other details of the pattern are sufficiently 

 apparent in the photograph. Beyond referring to the fact that 

 the markings, so far as they resemble those of any normally 

 coloured animal, make a slight, although decided, approximation 

 to the Jaguar-type, I am unable to offer any exjDlanation of the 

 remarkable style of ornamentation presented by this extremely 

 handsome skin. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. Description o£ a Biological Expedition to the Birket-el- 

 Qurun, Fayum Province of Egypt. By W. A. 

 CUNNINGTON, B.A., Ph.D., F.Z.S. 



[Received Jauuaiy 14, 1908.] 



An expedition was luidertaken by me in conjunction with 

 Mr. 0. L. Bovilenger, to investigate the flora and fauna of the 

 Birket-el-Qurun, a lake in the Fayum province of Egypt— 

 the Lake Moeris of the ancients. The expedition left London 

 in the middle of March 1907, and eight weeks were spent in 

 collecting on the shores of the lake. Since the railway comes 

 within some seven miles, there were no difficulties of transport to 

 contend with, the journeying about the lake being accomplished 

 in a sailing-boat of moderate size. 



The Birket-el-Qurun, or lake of the horns, is still of considerable 

 dimensions, being about 25 miles long, and having a maximum 

 breadth of 5 or 6 miles. It is, however, only a remnant of the 

 historic Lake Moeris, which was many times greater, and was used 

 as an artificial regulator of the Nile floods by the monarchs of the 

 Xlltli dynasty. The lake still communicates with the Nile by 

 means of' the Bahr Yusef, a channel over 200 miles long, which 

 diverges from the river a short distance north of Assiut. The 

 inflow and outflow of water was originally controlled by means of 

 lock-gates, but since these were allowed to fall into disuse, more 

 and more of the extremely fertile land was reclaimed, until the 

 lake was reduced to its modern dimensions. It is believed that 

 the surface of the lake was at one time some 70 feet above the 

 level of the Meditei-ranean ; at the present day, it is approximately 

 140 feet below sea-level. 



In addition to the historical evidence, there are not wanting- 



1* 



