176 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



it is not molested, its services in removing offal or putrid 

 flesh being considered useful. This is hardly correct even 

 of the Brown-necked species, which I never saw flying in or 

 over an Egyptian town. 



118. Abyssinian Raven, Corvus affinis, Riipp. 



This scarce bird is found in Egypt, but to my great regret 

 I did not get a specimen. Soon after we anchored at 

 Thebes I saw a pair on the sand, and tried to get near them 

 both by land and water. On another occasion, having ob- 

 served a quantity of Ravens congregated at a certain spot, 

 one of my friends tried the experiment of lying down. The 

 Ravens soon lost their shyness, and after he had lain still 

 for some time, one of the rare " Abyssinians" came within 

 shot, but just as he pulled the trigger a common one got in 

 the line and received the charge. Altogether I saw four 

 pairs, of which three pairs were with flocks of the Brown- 

 necked Raven. I suppose the bird has been frequently 

 overlooked, but the shape of its wings and tail are so differ- 

 ent from the common one, that it ought to be distinguished 

 instantly. At p. 71 of the "Ibis" for 1866, the distinctions 

 are given in detail with a woodcut. 



119. Hooded Crow, Corvus comix, Linn. 

 (Hasselquist 85) ; " Gurab awar," i.e. The One-eyed Crow, 



The " Hoodey " is the commonest of the larger birds in 

 the Delta, and the tamest, but further south they are 

 scarcer. One was seen at Boulac (Cairo) with a white patch 

 on its breast, and another pied one was seen lower down the 

 river. I have once or twice observed them perch on the 

 Buffaloes' backs. 



