SIX months' bird collecting in EGYPT. l6l 



Ji. WrilNCHAT, Saxicola rubctra (Linn.). 



I had expected to meet witli this species during the 

 winter in the Delta, but I only saw a few, males, towards 

 the end of April in returning down the Nile. 



Jl- White-spotted Bluethroat, Raticilhc leucocyana 



(Brehm.). 



I shot one, which I have no doubt is a female, at Silsilis, 

 on the 3rd of April, with an entirely white throat ; also a 

 male at Samanhoud with only a little red. The red-spotted 

 are decidedly much the commoner. 



74. Red-spotted Bluethroat, Ruticilla succica (Linn.). 



This proved to be not near so common above Cairo as in 

 the Delta, where I should say it is one of the commonest 

 small birds in winter. In May and June I did not shoot 

 one : it may be therefore that it leaves in summer. It is a 

 bird that is almost always on the ground, and you may 

 recognise them immediately by their tails, yet it is ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to get a sight of the breast spot, as they 

 invariably turn their backs upon you. 



75. Redstart, Ruticilla phoeiiicimis (Linn.). 



This bird appears to be resident in small numbers. 

 Captain Shelley hints as much, and Dr. Adams, whose notes 

 refer to November and the two following months, says — 

 " Not uncommon in Lower Egypt, and seen at Thebes " 

 (Ibis, 1864, p. 18). Mr. Allen, however, who was a very 

 correct observer, says it is not seen during the winter. This 

 is a point for further investigation. We did not shoot one 

 until the 31st of March, after which it was rather common. 



M 



