SIX months' bird COLLECTIxNG in EGYPT. 223 



difference in weight. At Gebel-Abou- Feeder we found 

 them nesting in cHffs. Of course we could not ascend to 

 their nests, but there could be no doubt that they were 

 breeding. One shot had a perfect egg ready for laying. 

 These cliffs are very lofty ; the lower stratum is devoted 

 to Pigeons ; on the tier above that the Geese ; and still 

 higher up a few Kites, Griffon Vultures, and a pair of 

 Ospreys. It was very curious to see them looking down 

 from their ledges. More wide awake then than the large 

 flocks which, with beaks inserted beneath the scapulars, 

 found balancing upon one leg conducive to sleep upon the 

 sandbanks. They fly with powerful beats, but neither very 

 high nor very fast. 



The coloured pictures of them on the monuments are so 

 bad that they are barely recognizable. The ancient 

 Egyptians appear only to have known three or four colours. 

 Most of their birds are only recognizable by the outline, 

 which however is generally very correct and characteristic. 



It would appear that opinions as to the edible qualities 

 of this goose are conflicting. Mr. Blandford says it is in 

 general excellent eating; but Dr. Kirk declares emphatically 

 that this is the worst of all the Duck kind for the table, 

 being in many cases quite uneatable. Where doctors dis- 

 agree who shall decide .'' 



1 86. Ruddy Shelduck, Tadoma rittila (Pall.) ; 

 " Abu Ferona." 



April 28th. — As I was waiting for the Diabcyha at Gow- 

 Garbi, the sun having gone down, and it being nearly dark, 

 I perceived a flock of large birds coming straight at me 

 across the river. They made a loud noise like Egyptian 

 Geese, which I at first mistook them for. However, on 

 killing one it proved to be the somewhat nearly allied 

 Ruddy Shelduck. Afterwards we saw them three or four 



