SIX MONTHS BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 233 



207. Gull-billed Tern, Sterna anglica, Mont. 



January 26th. A few on lake Menzaleh, half a mile from 

 the village of Geut-El-Nosara. They flew round our boat 

 in large circles, sometimes darting down as if to catch a 

 fish, and sometimes checking themselves as they thought 

 better of it. Occasionally they came within gunshot, when 

 I could see that they were in winter plumage. When near 

 us they moved the head sideways, but in the distance^as 

 I could see with the telescope — they kept steadily looking 

 down into the water. We afterwards obtained specimens 

 at Manfalout and Bibba, and saw a flock at El-Bab (the 

 1st Cat.). I believe we did not see any on the Faioum, but 

 I did at Alexandria on the 20th of June, so the species 

 must be resident. 



■)f2o8. Lesser Tern, Sterna minuta, Linn. 



I am disposed to think that this fairy -like Tern should 

 be considered a summer visitor rather than a winter one. 

 It would seem to be not nearly so rare as has been hitherto 

 supposed. In the first part of May we several times saw 

 small flocks, and obtained specimens. In particular a great 

 many were seen between Bibba and Cairo. At the Faioum 

 also it was rather a common bird, and one was seen carry- 

 ing some building materials. When we returned to Alex- 

 andria we saw them again there, on the nth and 17th of 

 June. I was also shown a skin at Damietta by M. Filliponi, 

 who said that they were not very rare there. 



I watched their actions with great attention, as I have 

 often done before in Norfolk. They are just the same in 

 Egypt. Precisely the same discordant cry strikes upon the 

 ear, and one looks everywhere for their small white forms, 

 so like in hue to both sky and water, to discover one at last 

 close to the boat. He passes on with slow, aimless flight, 



