Reviews.



39



is regarded as the rarest of the genus Neophema. It seems to be

unknown in Western Australia at the present time, though the

type was procured there. But this species has always been rare,

and possibly it is not scarcer now than formerly.


Notes from various correspondents on the nesting habits

of the species naturally form the bulk of the matter contained in

this book, and deeply interesting they are. D. S-S.


THE GIZA ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. *


The Report of the Giza Zoological Gardens for the year

1910, being compiled on the lines of the previous reports, enables

the reader to see at a glance how the year compares with pre¬

vious years. We note that the number of visitors shows an

increase of over 19,000 pointing to the continued and increasing

interest taken by the inhabitants of Cairo. The number of

animals, birds and reptiles in the Gardens at the time of the

annual stock-taking was 1464, representing 391 species, and is

the largest number that have hitherto been on exhibition.


Among the birds the more notable additions during the

year were six White-headed Oxbirds ( D . dine nielli), three Bifas-

ciated Laiks ( A . alaudipes ) and two Red-billed Hornbills (A.

erythrorhynchus ), one Savigny’s Bearded Vulture ( Gypaetus bar-

batus ossifragus), three Crowned Saudgrouse (Zb corotiatus), none

of which, except the Bearded Vulture and Hornbills, have been

on exhibition in the London Gardens. The number of species

of birds bred in the Gardens was not very great; the most

important being two Crowned Pigeons (Or. coronata ) and two

Senegal Stone Curlews ( CEdicnenius senegallus) , and we fancy

this is the first time that any Stone Curlew has successfully

reared its young in captivity. The Griffon Vultures and the

Lark-lieeled Cuckoo ( Centropus ) laid eggs but failed to hatch

them.


The Report also includes many interesting details respect¬

ing the food and the expenses, as well as a list of scientific papers

concerning the collection, which have been published by various

authors during the year.


On reading the Report one cannot help being struck by



Zoological Gardens, Giza; Report for the year 1910, by the Director.

Cairo: National Printing Department.



