114 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



when Ducks and Geese are equally quitting England and 

 other countries in Europe. Again, I do not believe that 

 they come to Egypt before November or late in October, 

 though I cannot speak from my own observation. The 

 river Nile begins to rise at the end of May, so. that it 

 must be nearly "high Nile" before they arrive. 



No doubt thousands of Spring birds which come to Egypt 

 have wintered not further south than Abyssinia ; but many 

 probably come from a region beyond the equator, where 

 winter is turned into summer, having already bred once. 

 These bring their offspring with them, which, being in the 

 puzzling plumage of immaturity, lead closet-naturalists to 

 set them down as being two years in arriving at maturity.* 

 Others may breed on the great lakes which are the sources 

 of the Nile. In that class I should put the Grey-headed 

 Wagtail, of which I saw large flocks at the end of April, 

 composed almost entirely of young birds, yet fully grown. 

 I think this is the only way to account for the young of 

 Insessorial birds turning up in Europe in April, at which 

 time, in the ordinary course of things, they ought to be in 

 full dress. Instances of their occasionally doing so must 

 have come under the notice of every ornithologist in Eng- 

 land. 



I do not think the sum of the birds of Egypt can be 

 put at more than 316, which may be roughly divided into 

 138 residents, 70 accidental stragglers, 48 winter visitors, 

 33 spring and autumn visitors, and 27 summer visitors. 

 Further researches would probably extend the last item. 

 What is wanted is to work the country between June and 

 October, for the collections which have come to England 

 and America — and they have been numerous, though for 

 the most part made by unscientific persons — have been 



* In Zambesi, says Dr. Kirk, birds pair in October and breed in 

 December. (Ibis, 1864, p. 313.) 



