SIX months' bird collecting in EGYPT. 1 97 



only met with it twice on the Nile, viz., at Gow lake, where 

 there were some good flocks, and at a much smaller lake, 

 or rather pond, at Samalout ; but it was breeding at the 

 Faioum in some numbers. The following is a description 

 of a nestling. Feathers of the head and back edged with 

 rufous; chest and over the eye buff; belly white; wing 

 feathers black ; secondaries and greater coverts tipped with 

 white. 



159. Lapwing, Vanellus vulgaris, Bechst. ; 

 " Tuktak chamy." 



Often seen, and occasionally shot. I also remarked its 

 muteness during the winter, noticed by Dr Adams. Of this 

 species, Hasselquist says : — 



" Comes in great numbers in the beginning of October, and 

 remains all the winter. I saw it about Cairo the 15 th of Decem- 

 ber, 1750, where it is esteemed good eating" (/. c). 



Captain Shelley says a few remain to breed, but Von 

 Heuglin doubts it, and further corroboration is wanted. 



160. Spur-winged Plover, Hoploptems spinosus (Linn.), 

 (Hasselquist 33) ; "Taktak balad." 



Most conspicuous of Nile birds are the Ziczacs or Spur- 

 winged Plovers, and very tame were they in the Delta, 

 where I killed six at a shot as they stood in an irregular 

 line by the edge of a field. Yet it is an unusual thing to 

 see a large flock ; more often they are in twos and threes. 

 As far as their gastronomic qualities go they are not worth 

 a cartridge, and we very soon left off shooting at them. 

 They quite pervade Egypt. At the village pool, on every 

 sandbank, in every flooded rice field — go at any season you 



