SIX months' bird collecting in EGYPT. 15I 



40. Greater spotted Cuckoo, Coccystes glandarius 



(Linn.) 



This fine bird is common in Middle Egypt, and we had 

 no difficulty in shooting as many specimens as we wanted. 

 Old birds and young of the previous Spring were in about 

 equal quantities. It was generally to be found singly on 

 the Sont trees (Acacia nilotica), but I have also seen it 

 perch on the Palm and the Cypress. Other writers say it 

 is generally to be found in pairs. In these minor points 

 observations of different naturalists must often differ. I 

 have seen as many as five in the course of a short walk, yet 

 they were barely near enough together to be called a flock. 

 I have frequently heard it give a loud harsh chattering cry, 

 and I suppose it utters "cuckoo," as a native boy applied 

 that name to one I shot (cf Ibis, 1862, p. 357). 



Underneath the feathers there are a number of large 

 hairs. The testes are small as in the Common Cuckoo, 

 Small birds will sometimes mob it, but I never saw it 

 meddled with by Hooded Crows, though I have seen it 

 most suspiciously near their nests. 



41. Common Cuckoo, Oicuhis canorus, Linn. 



April 7th, I shot one at Gebel Silsilis. May the roth 

 several were seen in a garden belonging to the Viceroy at 

 Minieh, and a female, still in the brown plumage, but with 

 blue rump, was shot. It struck me that they were quite 

 mute : they were evidently migrating. 



42. Isabelline Goatsucker, Caprinmlgtis cegyptius, 

 Licht; "Bakkak." 



With the other spring migrants came Goatsuckers. I 

 always saw them flitting over the water or very near to it, 



