12 ANCIENT EGYPT. 



earth. The Birds of Egypt, by Captain Shelley, is a good 

 work to consult on this head. 



Among insects is the beetle (Scarabceus sacer), the grass- 

 hopper, and locust. Butterflies are far from numerous, but 

 moths and Ephemeridae are common. Scorpions and spiders 

 swarm in some localities, while mosquitos and fleas are 

 perfect pests. 



The Nile abounds with fish — one of the most remarkable is 

 the Polypterus (bisheer), which is, I believe, present in our 

 district coal measures. I am given to understand that it only 

 now exists in the river Nile, above the second cataract. It is 

 too long a story to tell you of the great difficulties I ex- 

 perienced in securing a specimen for the museum. 



The flora consists of some 1,300 species, most of which 

 are indigenous, the desert species alone numbering about 250. 

 The papyrus plant is now extinct in Egypt, but the lotus is 

 found in ponds in the Delta, but never in the Nile itself : it is 

 a water-lily. 



The Natural History Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 

 among a wealth of natural objects, perhaps second in im- 

 portance only to those gathered together in London, is in 

 possession of a collection of Egyptian antiquities of much 

 interest, which, though small, is of considerable value to the 

 student : and besides these objects there is a valuable series 

 of copies of inscriptions from the monuments; examples of 

 hieroglyphic, hieratic, and demotic writings ; pictures taken 

 from the walls of temples and tombs, exhibiting many phases 

 of the social life, industries, and customs of the people : with 

 many other interesting memorials of ancient Egypt. The 

 Society would be thankful to any of our fellow citizens, 

 possessing Egyptian antiquities, who would in any way con- 

 tribute towards rendering the collection more representative 

 for the purposes of the student. Scarabaei, ushabti or 

 funerary figures, and statuettes of the gods, would be especially 

 valued. 



The broadening influence of the study of Egyptology is so 

 great that I would like to see it systematically pursued by 



