vi PREFACE. 
Egyptian Government School of Medicine in Cairo ; and a few of the more important 
species were given to some of the Museums in Europe. 
In the present volume, I have mentioned the names of the various donors, but I 
embrace this opportunity again to tender to all of them my best thanks for their 
aid so generously given ; and especially to acknowledge my obligations to Captain 
R. H. Penton, E.A.M.C, who so energetically carried on in Suakin and in its 
neighbourhood the work initiated there by Colonel Sir Charles Holled Smith shortly 
before his retirement from the Governorship of the Red Sea Littoral. 
I have also to express my hearty thanks to General A. Hunter, for his hospitality 
while he was Governor of the Red Sea Littoral, and for the great assistance he gave 
me during my visit to the Suakin District. 
I have much pleasure likewise to record my indebtedness to Dr. H. P. Keatinge, 
Vice-Principal and Professor in the Medical School of Cairo, for the lively interest 
he has always evinced in my work, and for his having done as much as lay in his 
power to promote its success. 
The Curator of the Museum in the Medical School, Dr. Walter Innes, very 
materially aided me in my researches, presenting me with some valuable specimens, 
besides supplying many native names of the reptiles, which, as he is a proficient in 
Arabic, I had no hesitation in adopting. But, in order to insure accuracy, as I had no 
personal knowledge of the language, they were submitted by me to Mr. A. G. Ellis, 
of the British Museum, who very kindly gave me the benefit of his advice. He is, 
however, in no way responsible for the names. 
But besides the collection of specimens in alcohol, frequent attempts were made 
to send to London living Lizards and Snakes for the purpose of having life-figures, 
in each case, prepared for this work. In these efforts no one more heartily and 
efficiently assisted me than Mr. Alan R. Birdwood, of Cairo, Sub-Director of the 
Government Lands Department, &c, to whom I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness. 
Through his instrumentality some interesting species of Reptiles and Mammals reached 
this country alive, notwilhstanding the difficulties attending their transmission. 
