(91) 
EDITORIAL GLEANINGS. 
In Prof. Newton’s ‘ Dictionary of Birds’ (Introd. p. 2) it was stated 
that there still seemed to be need of a report by an ornithologist with 
regard to the species of two of the Geese in the celebrated fresco found in 
a tomb at Maydoom. Mr. G. EH. H. Barrett-Hamilton has recently con- 
tributed to the ‘Ibis’ some results of a careful examination he made of 
this fresco during a visit to the Ghizeh Museum. There are six Geese 
in the picture, and, as Prof. Newton states, ‘‘four of these figures can be 
unhesitatingly referred to two species (Anser erythropus and A. rujicollis).” 
Of the two larger Geese in question, Mr. Hamilton considers they are 
‘very poor representations of A. segetum, and rather resemble the nonde- 
script kind of Geese which may be seen frequently in farmyards in Egypt.” 
His opinion is that ‘‘ either the artist did not know of the characters which 
distinguish the various species of Grey Goose among themselves (with the 
exception of the White-fronted species), or else his intention was to depict 
both ‘wild and tame Geese together—a course of procedure which would, J 
think, be quite in keeping with the methods of the artists who produced 
the beautiful series of animal drawings on the Tomb of Thi, at Sakkarah, 
which are said to date from about B.c. 3500. The latter drawings show 
conclusively, I think, that the Egyptians of those early times had both 
tame Geese and tame Ducks.” 
“‘ Tux Birds of London ” are the subject of a most interesting article in 
the last number of the ‘ Edinburgh Review.’ The author defines his area 
as comprised within a radius of four miles from Charing Cross. Among 
the record of many interesting facts we may mention that last year there 
was but one rookery in London. The Dabchick, or Little Grebe, is a 
regular visitor to St. James’s Park. ‘It is not uncommon in the early 
hours of the morning for wandering Cuckoos to make their way into the 
parks, and last spring, about seven in the morning, one even roused the 
inhabitants of the Temple by its call.” The last record of the Nightingale’s 
appearance in London comes from Lincoln’s Inn (April, 1897). It is at 
least singular that while most birds are diminishing, there is a “ gradual 
invasion of London by the Wood Pigeons.” 
