1869-71 SPEECH AT GEOGRAPHICAL DINNER 205 
the opportunity, so much valued by ornithologists, 
of handling the recently killed specimens which 
were shot by the Prince. The addition to the 
staff of a skilled taxidermist, equal to the prompt 
preparation of any rare bird, bat, beast, or fish, 
was no suggestion of mine, but of the Prince, as 
was likewise the provision of a seine net, the use 
of which enabled me to observe, fresh or living, 
the curious forms of siluroids, snouted mormyri, 
and other Nilotic scaled rarities, which previously 
I had known only in a dried state or preserved 
in spirits. Of crocodiles I saw none : steam 
and improved rifles have driven them to the 
Cataracts. The consequence is that between 
Cairo and Thebes the fishes have marvellously 
multiplied, and, correlatively, the pelicans, flamin- 
goes, spoonbills, and all the varied forms of 
heron, ibis, and curlew that feed upon the spawn 
or fry of fishes. This is interesting evidence of the 
effects of disturbing a natural balance in the 
contest for existence. So much for zoology. 
‘ Nor was I less indebted to His Royal High- 
ness for occasions of adding to my physiological 
knowledge. Through the Prince’s kindness, I 
for the first time had the opportunity of observing, 
in the living state, that remarkable species, the 
Lacerta anlis, seldom to be seen save in Oriental 
and sub-tropical countries. They are highly 
organised, though belonging to a low class.’ 
On June 27, 1869, Owen received at the Col- 
