SIX months' bird collecting in EGYPT. 1 89 



Obs. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola, Linn. 



It is possible that the Woodcock may come to 

 Egypt in very small numbers every winter, for 

 I conversed with three or four people at Cairo 

 who had met with it or heard from others of its 

 occurrence. Von Heuglin speaks of it as found 

 in March ; and as it is a pure migrant and goes 

 to Algeria, I do not see why it should not be 

 found in northern Egypt ; but I can hold out 

 no hope of cock-shooting to the adventurous 

 traveller such as he may get in Greece, or nearer 

 home, in Ireland. 



138. Marsh Sandpiper, Totanus stagnatilis, Bechst. 



This was met with at El-Badalki, and other marshes near 

 Damietta, in January, sometimes in flocks ; but what few 

 we saw in Upper Egypt in April were single birds. I do 

 not think it breeds at the Faioum. The tail-bars are much 

 narrower than in the Green Sandpiper, with which only a 

 casual observer would confound it. 



139. Green Sandpiper, Totanus ochropus (Linn.). 



I did not find it nearly so common in Upper as in Lower 

 Egypt, where it was one of the commonest birds. It was 

 not seen at the Faioum. Probably it is scarce in summer. 



140. Wood Sandpiper, Totanus glareola (Linn.). 



I found the Wood Sandpiper frequenting the same locali- 

 ties as the Green, but it was by no means so abundant. 

 Some remain as late as May. 



