SIX months' bird collecting in EGYPT. 1 55 



in his collection, and rather darker under tail-covcrts. At 

 the same time some individuals of C. obsolcta are much 

 darker than others, as remarked by Dr. Adams, and the 

 pink tinge noticed by Mr. Smith ("Attractions of the Nile," 

 1 1, p. 247) varies much in Egyptian specimens. 



51. Pallid Shrike, Laniiis latJiora, Sykes ; 

 " Deknasch swrreti." 



I saw some, birds of the year, on the desert side of the 

 Faioum, upon the tamarisk bushes; and just before leaving 

 England, I was shown four or five at Mr. Cutter's shop, 

 which had been sent to him from the Delta, but it certainly 

 cannot be common. 



52. Red-backed Shrike, Lanins collnrio, Linn. 



I bought a female of M. Piacentini, killed at Ramleh 

 near Alexandria. 



53. Woodchat, Laniits aHriai/atus,M.\x\\QY \ L. niloticus ; 

 " Deknasch." 



First shot March 26th, and soon became common. Its 

 actions are not sprightly. It is often seen alone on the top 

 of a plant. Does not as a rule fly far, or perch high, 



54. Masked Shrike, Lanins nubiciis, Lichtenstein, 



The Masked Shrike arrived at Minieh on the ist of 

 March, and soon became extremely common. It varied 

 much in intensity of colour, some of the earlier specimens 

 being much blacker than later ones, I suppose these were 

 more advanced in summer plumage. The sexual difference 

 was certainly not sufficient to account for it. The Wood- 



