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



where often the colour of its plumage prevents its being seen. 

 It breeds among the old tombs at Thebes, associating there with 

 the Domestic Sparrow. In Nubia the Sparrow-Hawk may be 

 often observed sweeping around a cliff, with one of these birds 

 in its talons, pursued by the loud lamentations of the whole flock, 

 uttered in their characteristic clear and musical notes. They 

 begin to pair about the end of January ; but for some time before- 

 hand the males may be observed making constant approaches and 

 coquetting around the females, who long resist their attentions. 

 At that time, although the testes in the male are fully developed, 

 the ovaries of the females are unchanged. This circumstance I 

 have often noticed in respect to other species, viz. that con- 

 stant attentions on the part of the male seem to be required 

 before the aphrodisiacal tendency is aroused in the other sex, and 

 moreover (as any one who has paid sufficient attention to the 

 habits of gregarious birds will observe) that it is the hand- 

 somest, largest, and strongest males who are the most assiduous 

 in the love-making season. In the above instance I noticed a 

 marked confirmation of the latter remark, the " gallants " being 

 the largest and richest in plumage. The same may be noticed 

 in the case of Sparrows, Linnets, &c. 



Certhilauda desertorum (Stanley) : Riipp. Syst. Ueb. 

 p. 78.— P. L. S. 



Is not uncommon, either solitary or in small flocks, around 

 the pyramids and along the edge of the desert to Nubia. It 

 runs at great speed, with a very erect carriage, stopping every 

 few yards. The male varies from 8^ to 8| inches in length ; the 

 female, 8^ to 8^. The plumage of the latter is more clouded. 

 At Beni Hassan I came on a flock associated with the Cursoritis 

 isabellinus. 



Galerida cristata. 



Is most plentiful during the cold months in all cultivated 

 districts of Egypt and Nubia. 



Galerida isabellina (Temm.) : Riipp. S. U. p. 78. — P. L. S. 



Is common in waste and stony deserts ; for instance, around 

 the Necropolis and valley leading to the Tombs of the Kings at 

 Thebes. The transparency of its wings and their pale isabella- 



