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Show 400 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON EGYPTIAN MENAGERIES. [May 21, May 21, 1895. Lt.-Col. H. H. GODWIN-AUSTEN, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the Chair. Mr. Sclater made some remarks on the Zoological Institutions which he had recently visited in Cairo. These were the new Zoological Garden at Gizeh, the Zoological Collection in the Medical School at Cairo, and the Ostrich Farm at Matariyeh. Part of the former Palace-Garden at Gizeh had recently been appropriated by the Egyptian Government as a Zoological Garden, of which a young Englishman, Mr. Jennings Bramley, had been appointed Manager. The Institution was at present quite in its infancy, but had the great advantage of a beautiful garden of 20 acres, well stocked with fine trees and shrubs, and furnished with an abundant water-supply. The small collection already made consisted principally of well-known Egyptian animals, with a certain number of Oriental species, obtained from ships passing through the Suez Canal. Amongst the Egyptian animals, besides the ordinary Gazella dorcas, of which there were many specimens, Mr. Sclater had examined individuals of both sexes of another Gazelle, said to have been obtained in the Libyan Desert. Tbis belonged to the group with long straight horns, allied to G. cuvieri and G. leptoceros (cf. Brooke, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 543). Mr. Sclater was endeavouring to obtain more information respecting it, but there could be no doubt of the existence of a second species of Gazelle in Egypt. Amongst the birds in the gardens, Mr. Sclater had noticed two fine specimens of RiippelPs Griffon (Gyps rueppelli), said also to have been obtained from the Western Desert. This species was not recognized in Shelley's ' Birds of Egypt;' and it was rather surprising to meet with it so far north. The only zoological collection in Cairo was that of the Government School of Medicine, under the care of Dr. Innes. It was at present in an undeveloped condition, but contained a series of Egyptian animals along with others from various parts of the world, intended originally for educational purposes. It was hoped with Dr. Anderson's promised assistance, and aid from other quarters, to make considerable additions to the Egyptian series. There could be no doubt that the capital of Egypt ought to contain a good exhibition of the native animals. Tbe Ostrich Farm at Matariyeh, near the Khedive's palace at Kubbeh, was, in Mr. Sclater's opinion, one of the most interesting sights in Cairo. It was said to have been commenced with some twenty birds from two sources about fifteen years ago, and now contained about 1400 Ostriches of different ages. The birds were placed in small compartments enclosed by mud walls ten feet high, and arranged according to age, both sexes being kept together. After four or five years, when fully adult and showing signs of |