Dr. A. L. Adams on the Birds of Egi/pt and Nubia. 9 



cure specimens. Although both Diodorus and Strabo say the 

 Eagle was worshipped at Thebes, " there appears good reason to 

 think they were mistaken, and that the Hawk was the bird they 

 ought to have substituted^^*. An Eagle frequently occurs in 

 hieroglyphics, where it has the force of the letter A f. 



Pandion haliaetus 



Is a characteristic denizen of the sand-banks and shallows of 

 the Nile, especially in Lower Egypt. I did not observe it in 

 Nubia. 



BUTEO RUFINUS, Rupp. 



This is the most common Buzzard in Egypt during the cold 

 months; it affects the open country, and hunts along the canal- 

 banks after Rodents, lizards, snakes, and frogs. According to 

 Heuglin J, the Common Buzzard is seen occasionally during the 

 winter in Egypt. Riippell speaks of it as being found "every- 

 where in N.E. Africa. ^^ I did not notice one individual during 

 my excursion. In fields on the left bank of the river, opposite 

 Beni Hassan, I followed a large Buzzard one morning, but 

 unfortunately could not get within shot. Its upper parts were 

 bluish ash, lighter about the head ; breast and belly white, with 

 cross barrings of black ; legs yellow. I presume the above 

 may have been the Circaetus beaudouini of Verreaux. 



MiLVUS ATER (Gm.). 



This is the most common Kite in Egypt, and, like the M. 

 govinda of India, frequents towns as well as the open country, 

 breeding in trees and rocky situations. I have taken its nest 

 and young in January. The iris is dark brown in the adult, 

 but in several young and immature birds it was found to vary 

 from a light yellow to greyish brown. The similarity in these 

 respects also in plumage of certain varieties of the Govinda Kite 

 and the above is very striking. The 6 and ? of both measure 

 likewise 21 inches in length in the flesh. 



MiLVUS ^GYPTIUS (Gm.) 



Is much less common than the last, and apparently more 



* Wilkinson's ' Ancient Egyptians,' vol. ii. p. 294. t Ibidem. 



+ Ibis, 1861, p. 76. 



