10 Dr. A. L. Adams on the Birds of Egypt and Nubia. 



southern in its range. I did not observe the Egyptian Kite until 

 near the Eirst Cataract, where, along with the Black Kite, it was 

 seen at Edfoo, hunting around the village dove-cots, and chasing 

 the young Pigeons, which it torments until they drop exhausted, 

 when the Kite bears them off in its talons. I have noticed the 

 Govinda Kite do the same in India. The natives catch the Kites 

 by means of traps baited with Pigeons, and placed on the tops 

 of palm-trees. The bright white bill and heavier appearance 

 will serve to distinguish this from M. ater, although immature 

 individuals of these two species are very much alike in plumage 

 and colour of bill, and iris. The adult M. cegyptius has the iris 

 a shade lighter than M. ater, and is about an inch longer ; 

 moreover it is not so familiar in its habits, and is more often 

 observed in rocky, out-of-the-way places. 



Elan us melanopterus (Daud.) 



Is more abundant in the Delta than above Cairo, and seems 

 to decrease in frequency towards Nubia. The ornithologist will 

 be struck by the numbers of this pretty little Hawk observable 

 in the cold months along the railway route between Alexandria 

 and Cairo. 



Falco peregrinus. 



Falco lanarius, L. 



Falco biarmicus, Brehm. 



The Peregrine is not uncommon along the river route. In 

 dissecting a specimen shot near Thebes, I found coils of a long 

 thread-worm in the intestines and cavity of the abdomen ; 

 the same was noticed in another individual procured on the 

 banks of the Indus *. In both cases the birds were plump and 

 in good condition. The Egyptian specimen was a $, and mea- 

 sured 18 inches in the flesh. I examined a specimen of the 

 Lanner which was shot in Upper Egypt. F. biarmicus is not 

 uncommon in the rocky parts of Nubia : I procured one specimen 

 and noticed many moi-e. I recommend Nubia as a very suitable 

 locality for studying the affinities of the two last-named Falcons 

 and their immediate congeners. There are several large mous- 



* See Proc. Zool. Soc. 1858, \^. 472. 



