Volume 29 Numbers 1&2 
COMMENT 
NINETY YEARS OF NATURAL HISTORY 
On 25 March 1909. a small group of naturalists 
gathered at the house of the Lieutenant Governor 
of East Africa. Frederick Jackson Their objec- 
tive: to create a Society that would promote in- 
terest in, and knowledge of, the remarkable flora 
and fauna of eastern Africa Thus was bom the 
East Africa and Uganda Natural History’ Society 
Its initial aims were to start a natural history 
museum and publish a scientific journal . and both 
of these were achieved by the end of 1910 
Still going strong ninety years luicr. the 
EANHS (the 'Uganda' having been dropped along 
the way) is Africa's oldest scientific Society Tile 
museum it founded in Nairobi eventually grew 
into the National Museums of Kenya, an organ! 
sation whose scope is unparalleled in the region 
The two organisations arc sull umbdically linked 
rhe initial membership reads like a ‘who's 
who of East African science and society in the 
early years of the century The first Chairman. 
Frederick (later Sir Frederick) Jackson, was both 
a colonial administrator and renowned omithola 
gist (Jackson's Francolin and Jackson's Widowhird 
bear his name) The first Honorary Treasurer was 
the geologist C.W. Hobley, of Hobley's Volcano 
fame T.J Anderson, the Chief Entomologist in 
the Agricultural Department, took on the onerous 
role of Honorary Curator A plot on Sixth (now 
Kcnyaita) Avenue was identified as the site lor the 
new museum, which was ready for occupation on 
16 August 1910 at the monthly rent of two pounds 
and ten shillings The embryonic Nairobi Museum 
was a room some ten by eight metres, which soon 
became crowded with specimens of all kinds sent 
in by members. Plants, fish, birds, mammals and 
molluscs arrived in quantities, not to mention a 
complete elephant skull donated by Mr H B 
Dunham 
Membership of the Society continued to grow 
steadily, but the organisation was not without its 
problems. The Minutes of those early years make 
fascinating reading, not least because the kinds of 
difficulties that bedevilled Committees then have 
changed very little over the years Shortage of 
space, shortage of money, shortage of time among 
EANHS 
April & August 1999 
INSIDE 
Comment 1 
Articles 3 
Kenya's laicst snail discovery. Charles N Lange 
The proposed Nguruman project: use of raptors as 
tools for conservation and ecological monitoring of 
biological diversity. Munir Virnai & Bob Copeland 5 
, Conservation of Kenya's most rare and unique 
gallery forest Joseph Nderitu Kiraihe 
Raptors and other birds associated with Lake 
Banngo cliffs. Kenya. Anthony J. wn Zyl, George 
Amuiete & Sally T. Newton 9 
Short Communications 12 
Observations of dodder Cuscuta campestris Yonkcr 
I parasitism on hedges in Nairobi. 
A Miuhama Muasya 12 
i Another mating between the diadem butterfly and 
I Trimen's false acraca. land Gordon 13 
Letter to the Editor Clare Gaier 13 
Eucalyptus trees Dave Richards 13 
OfTermites. Dee Raymer 14 
Hard limes for termites? Ian Gordon 15 
Special Feature 16 
Lake Victoria— a threatened common heritage. 
Philip Molo McOsano 16 
Earthwatch Fellowships 18 
The Mallorcan expedition. Dorice Agol 20 
Book Review 24 
The Rhinoceros in Captmty by L.C. Rookmaakcr 
Esmond Brudley Martin • 24 
Request for Information 25 
I The Greyheaded Parrot in East Africa: a plea for 
| sighting records. Craig Symes 25 
Networking 26 
Annual General Meeting 28 
