SIX MONTHS BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. lOQ 



picture of the prominent species to be met with in June at 

 such a lake as the Faioum (Birket-El-Korn). First the 

 little long-tailed African Cormorant goes by with straight 

 undeviating flight, like one who knows what place he wants 

 to go to and is going there, leaving behind him the wanton 

 Terns, who have no object in life but lightly to sport over 

 the water as they watch for their finny prey, assured that 

 the warm sun will take care to incubate their eggs. In 

 noisy conclave the Buff-backed Herons trim their nests, and 

 the shyer Squacco is uneasy at any disturbance the mean- 

 ing of which he does not understand, while the cautious 

 Egret takes his stick away again, wisely jealous of revealing 

 the whereabouts of his yet unfinished edifice. The Dalma- 

 tian Pelican swims away with all sail set, or flaps and glides, 

 and flaps and glides over the water, his huge form mirrored 

 on the surface, startling the basking fish, which hurry from 

 the presence of their enemy. Marbled Ducks in pairs rise 

 from among the sedges : agile Grebes put their trust in 

 diving : the tall reeds quiver as the Green-backed Porphyrio 

 seeks their friendly shelter: the Reed Warbler sounds a 

 loud alarum. All fly to the nearest cover, and in those thick 

 beds they find a secure haven. 



