They are not unfrequently exhibited in menageries under the name of crown-birds, or Balearic cranes.

The flamingo tribe are remarkable for the length of their legs. The species occasionally found in Europe (Phoenicopterus ruber) is native to the warmer regions of Asia and Africa. The bird described under that name by Alexander Wilson in his American Ornithology, is a distinct species, mentioned as such long ago by Molina, in his Natural History of Chili. It is alluded to by Campbell, in his Gertrude of Wyoming :

"Then, where of Indian hills the daylight takes
His leave, how might you the flamingo see
Disporting like a meteor on the lakes."

-

The lesser flamingo (P. minor of Vieillot and Temminck) is a species discovered of late years as an inhabitant of various parts of Africa, from Senegal to the Cape of Good Hope.

The gigantic stork (Ciconia argala), though well known in Bengal, is likewise an African species; and is sometimes seen upwards of six feet in height. It is very common in many of the interior parts of the continent, and is called marabou in Senegal. According to Major Denham, it is protected by the inhabitants on account of its services as a scavenger; its appetite being most voracious, and nothing coming amiss to its omnivorous propensities. Smeathman has given a long account of a tame bird of this species, which regularly attended the hall at dinner-time, and placed itself behind its master's chair. It frequently helped itself to what it liked best; and one day darted its enormous bill into a boiled fowl, which it swallowed in an instant. It used to fly about the whole country, and generally roosted high among some silk-cotton trees. From this station, at the distance of two or three miles, it could see when the dinner was carried across the court, upon which it immediately took wing, and flying with great swiftness, arrived in time to enter the house with some of those who carried the dishes. It sometimes remained in the room for half an hour after dinner, turning its head alternately from side to side, with an appearance of unusual gravity, as if listening to the conversation. It one day swallowed a cat. Is this the Ardea dubia of Gmelin?

Let us here insert the name of the umber (Scopus umbretta, Linn.), an African species, the only one of its genus of the manners of which we are still entirely ignorant.

Of the snipe and woodcock kind several species inhabit Africa. Of these we shall mention no more than the Cape snipe (Rhynchia Africana of Lesson), which occurs specifically the same, or at least apparently identical, in Bengal.

Of the sandpiper tribe (Pelidna, Cuvier) a few occur along the African shores, and a new species of phalarope (Ph. Fimbriatus) has been recently described by M. Temminck as a native of Senegal.

The genus Cursorius is found in all the quarters of the globe, with the exception of America. The double-collared courier (C. bicinctus) inhabits the interior of Southern Africa;

Temminck's courier (C. Temminckii, Swainson) is found at Sierra Leone; and the violet-winged courier (C. chalcopterus, Temm.) comes from Senegal.

The plover family are numerous in almost all parts of the world. Africa possesses nearly a dozen species, of which we shall mention merely the crowned variety (Charadrius coronatus), one of the largest of the genus, which occurs at the Cape of Good Hope.

Of the Palmipedes, or web-footed water-fowl, we know of no great number peculiar to Africa. These birds are of wandering habits, and being possessed, in addition to their great power of wing, of the faculty of resting on the water, we can place no limits to the extent of their migratory movements. They thus become more cosmopolite than many of the other tribes, and are therefore less entitled to our attention in describing the peculiar and more characteristic features of a particular continent.

The first of this order which we shall name is the Cape penguin (Spheniscus Capensis). This creature is seen on several of the southern portions of our globe, especially at the Cape and the Malouine Islands, where it appears in immense numbers, congregated together in spots called rookeries by our voyagers. The eggs are much esteemed.

The pelican (P. Onocrotalus, Linn.), common alike to Asia and the eastern countries of Europe, is also found in Africa, where it has been observed both in Egypt and the Cape of Good Hope.

Of the singular genus called plotus or darter, Le Vaillant made us acquainted with a species from Senegal and the Cape. It was also observed in the interior of the country by Major Denham.

The elegant and long-winged terns or sea-swallows may be enumerated among the African tribes. The slender-billed tern (Sterna tenuirostris, Temm.), is found upon the western coasts, and the white one (S. candida, Gmelin) inhabits the Cape of Good Hope.

The buoyant and pearly-plumaged gulls, though more characteristic of the northern regions, are occasionally seen along the African shores. We are not, however, acquainted with any species peculiar to this continent.

The genus albatross (Diomedea) probably contains the largest and longest winged of all the aquatic species. The wandering albatross (D. exulans) is equal in size to a swan, and its wings extend about ten feet. This bird is principally met with in the seas adjacent to the Cape.

The Cape petrel (Procellaria Capensis), as its title implies, occurs also near the last-named locality. It is common in the southern seas, but more especially in the vicinity of the Cape, where it flies in great flocks. It is extremely voracious, and feeds on fish and the dead carcasses of whales. When caught, it squirts a quantity of oil from its nostrils.

The spur-winged goose (Plectropterus Gambensis) is a singular species inhabiting Gambia and other parts of Africa. The anterior angles of its wings are armed with sharp projecting spines.

The mountain goose (Anser montana) is a large variety, having the wing-feathers, and those of the head, of a bright shining reddish green. According to Latham, it inhabits the Cape of Good Hope, keeping mostly on the hills, where it feeds on grass and herbs.

Among the larger of the web-footed tribes we must not omit to mention the Egyptian goose (Chenalopex Egyptiaca, Stephens), so remarkable for its strong attachment to its young. It was anciently worshipped by the natives, and its sculptured figure is still recognisable among the hieroglyphical representations of the Theban temples. It also occurs in the southern regions of Africa, and has not unfrequently been imported into Britain to beautify the waters of our pleasure-grounds; but the love of liberty is deeply implanted in this bird, and it is with difficulty that even the young, reared in northern climates, are retained in a state of domestication.

The crimson-billed sheldrake (Tadorna erythrorhyncha) inhabits the Cape of Good Hope; and a species of musk-duck (Anas Nilotica of Gmelin) is found in Upper Egypt. It is easily tamed, and lives on good terms with other poultry.

From the preceding summary, the student of ornithology will be able to form a sufficiently correct idea of the features which characterize this branch of science in Africa; and, by comparing the present sketch with those which we purpose to exhibit of other countries in the future volumes of our series, he will likewise be enabled to estimate the peculiarities by which that continent is distinguished from all the other quarters of the globe.*

*We may now refer to the various volumes of the Edinburgh Cabinet Library devoted to the general history of India, China, the Northern Coasts of America, British America, &c., in which the zoological features of these several countries are particularly described or alluded to.

CHAPTER XXII.

Natural History of the Reptiles, Fishes, Shells, Insects, &c. of Africa.

Introductory Observations-Crocodiles-Lizards-Chameleon- Serpents -Frogs-General Observations on Fishes-Muræna-Gobius-CottusScorpæna-Zeus-Remora -Labrus-Mackerel - Surmullet - Flying Gurnard-Electric Silure-Salmon-Polypterus-Argentine-Flyingfish-Polyneme-African Herring-Carp-Mormyrus-Ray- Ostracion -Tetrodon-Pipe-fish-Fossil Fish-General Observations on ShellsVarious African Species-Remarks on the Distribution of InsectsGoliathus, &c.-Paussus-Mantis-Locusts-Butterfly Tribe-BeesScorpions-Centipedes-Zoophytes-Coral-Sponge-Guinea Worm. INTERMEDIATE between the birds and fishes are the reptile race, divided by naturalists into four principal branches, the Chelonian, the Saurian, the Ophidian, and the Batrachian reptiles. Of all these Africa, "fruitful in monsters," produces some remarkable examples.

In regard to the geographical distribution of reptiles, the first and most general observation is, that they augment in number as we advance towards the equatorial regions. While Sweden possesses scarcely a dozen lizards and snakes, about three or four frogs and toads, and not a single tortoise, the temperate parts of Europe produce about forty snakes and lizards, and several of the tortoise tribe. As soon as we reach the southern extremity of Spain, the number of species in these tribes greatly increases, and in Andalusia the African complexion of the country is still farther manifested by the appearance of the chameleon. On proceeding farther south, not only does the number of reptiles increase, but they also augment in size, till, from the Tropic of Cancer, onwards, and beyond the Line, we meet with crocodiles, caymans, boas, and other giants of that race. For the present, however, we must satisfy ourselves with a brief allusion to a very limited number of the African tribes.

1st, Chelonian reptiles, or tortoises and turtles. Several of this division occur in that continent, such as the Testudo Græca, the Testudo triunguis, &c.

·2d, Saurian reptiles. To this division belong the crocodiles and lizards, the geckos, chameleons, and many others.

The common crocodile (Lacerta crocodilus) celebrated in the

ancient history of Egypt, is spread over a considerable extent of this continent.

"Erewhile, emerging from the brooding sand,
With tiger paw he prints the brineless strand;
High on the flood, with speckled bosom swims,
Helm'd with broad tail, and oar'd with giant limbs;
Rolls his fierce eyeballs, clasps his iron claws,
And champs with gnashing teeth his massy jaws.
Old Nilus sighs through all his cane-crowned shores,
And swarthy Memphis trembles and adores."

There are several different kinds to be found in the old and new world, and their tempers and dispositions seem to vary in different localities. Humboldt and Mungo Park regarded them with great fear, whilst Audubon and Mr Waterton hold them in little consideration either as friends or foes. Though seldom tamed, they are not by any means incapable of domestication, as has been demonstrated by many examples, both in ancient and modern times.*

Many lizards occur in Africa; but we shall only mention one found near Mourzouk, called aselis, which, if it be not a true lizard, certainly resembles them in form. When alarmed, it buries itself in the sand, and, when dropped from a height, it immediately sinks beneath the surface of the spot on which it fell. "These little creatures," says Captain Lyon, "are eagerly bought by the girls and married women, for the purpose of ascertaining how many children they shall have. By stretching them the skin will immediately crack, and the women most religiously believe that for every sound they shall bear a child." One of the most remarkable families of the saurian tribe is that which contains the chameleons. The common species (Lacerta Africana) is found in Egypt, Barbary, and the south of Spain. The changes of colour in these animals, by some deemed fabulous, are now beyond dispute, though the cause of these variations must still be classed among the more obscure points of natural history. They seem independent of external objects, and vary within a certain range almost every hour.

"Non mihi tot cultus numero comprendere fas est:
Adjicit ornatus proxima quæque dies."

3d, Ophidian reptiles, or serpents. Among the most remarkable of the African species of this division is the cerastes, or horned viper. It is characterized by a small curved horn over each eyelid; it lives in the sand, and was well known to the ancients. Another singular serpent is the haje (Coluber haje, Linn.). The Egyptian jugglers, by pressing the neck of this creature between their fingers, produce a kind of catalepsy which renders it stiff and motionless. This is rather a curious fact when considered in connexion with the scriptural narrative in the seventh chapter of Exodus, where it is related

*For the general history and systematic arrangement of these and other reptiles, consult the articles Reptilia and Serpents in the seventh edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica.