SIX months' bird collecting in EGYPT. 1 57 



60. Blackbird, Turdus mcrula, Linn. 



I insert this with some doubt : it was seen by a friend 

 on the 23rd of January. I also saw a couple in cages. 

 Captain Shelley says it comes to Egypt.* 



61. Golden Oriole, Oriolus ga/bula, Linn.; "Sufri." 



This is about the last of the migratory Passercs to arrive. 

 The first seen were old males ; then several young males 

 and females. They prefer the thicker foliaged trees, as has 

 been observed, and in spite of their bright colours are not 

 very easy to see when sitting. Only once did I hear the 

 flute -like note of the Oriole, and it appears to me that many 

 of the spring visitors, which pass through Egypt in April, 

 are not near enough to the time of their nesting to be in 

 much song. The Cuckoos, for instance, were mute, but in 

 England the first announcement of their advent is their 

 familiar note. I believe very many birds pair en route, but 

 I believe also that they reserve their song of exultation until 

 they reach the scene of their labours for the summer. 



62. Blue Thrush, Monticola cyana (Linn.) ; 

 .? "Hamamet-Um Aby." 



If not got when first seen, it is of little use following the 

 crafty Blue Thrush, for it will keep on ahead taking short 

 flights, alluring one on, but always taking care to be just 

 out of gunshot. We shot one in the great hall at Karnac, 

 and saw another at Medinet-Haboo. It is not at all un- 



* In April, 1838, a pair of Blackbirds were put into my father's 

 aviary, and niirabile dictu, these httle monsters, in about forty-eight 

 hours, killed twenty-six small birds which were confined there with 

 them. 



