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THE ZOOLOGIST. 



We have received the Keport for 1908 of the Zoological Gardens 

 at Giza, near Cairo, by the Director, Capt. Stanley S. Flower. We 

 read that an unusual meteorological event in 1908 was the heavy 

 rain on April 24th ; the rain continued nearly all day, and left many 

 of the paths and paddocks covered in standing water. This drench- 

 ing, combined with the subsequent infiltration of subsoil water from 

 the Nile (the Nile flood having been higher than in the preceding ten 

 years), produced a very damp summer in the Gardens, and had a 

 deleterious effect on some of the desert animals, especially the Addax 

 and Sabre-horned Antelopes. Forty-four accidental deaths occurred, 

 including sixteen mammals, twenty-four birds, three reptiles, and one 

 batrachian. The incidents are thus summarized, and should claim the 

 attention of those who possess collections of living animals : — Two 

 Lemurs killed fighting other Lemurs of the same species ; one Sudan 

 Jackal killed fighting other Jackals of the same species ; five Egyptian 

 Jackal puppies killed by their parents ; one Ratel died from injuries 

 received prior to its arrival in Giza ; two newly-born Hedgehogs killed 

 by adult Hedgehogs in the same cage ; one Fat-tailed Mouse killed 

 fighting others of the same species ; one female Oryx died from 

 injuries received from the horns of a male of the same species ; one 

 male Addax died from injuries received from the horns of a female of 

 the same species ; one young male Nylgai killed itself in a panic by 

 dashing against the railings of its paddock, frightened from some 

 unknown cause ; one female Arui Wild Sheep died from injuries 

 received from tne horns of other sheep of the same species ; three 

 Indigo Finches killed fighting others of the same species ; two Car- 

 dinal-birds killed fighting others of the same species; two Yellow 

 Sparrows killed fighting others of the same species ; one Parrakeet 

 and one Lark met with fatal accidents ; one Flamingo killed by an 

 Adjutant Bird ; one Spur- winged Goose killed by a Hippopotamus ; 

 four nestling Egrets killed by adult Egrets of the same species ; one 

 Ibis and one Spoonbill killed by other birds inhabiting the same 

 aviary ; one Partridge killed fighting ; one young Partridge found 

 drowned ; one Crowned Crane killed by a Senegal Stork ; one 

 nestling Purple Coot killed by adults of the same species ; one Purple 

 Coot killed by others of the same species ; one Purple Coot and one 

 Gull killed by other birds inhabiting the same aviary ; two Tortoises 

 found drowned ; one Waran Lizard killed by another of the same 

 species ; one small Toad swallowed by a larger Toad. 



