234 Mr. S. S. Allen on the Birds of Egypt and Nubia. 



of the species which have come under my notice, reserving for a 

 future opportunity detailed accounts of interesting kinds. Most 

 of them were shot by myself, and, where that was not the case, 

 by persons with whom I was well acquainted, who gave me an 

 opportunity of examining the specimens, either in the flesh or 

 recently skinned. A few species noted, which I had not seen 

 elsewhere, were amongst the supplies of game and wild-fowl 

 brought for sale to the market in Alexandria. 



As I am now likely to be resident in Egypt for the greater 

 portion of the next two or three years, I may hope not only to 

 add very considerably to this list, but to obtain interesting in- 

 formation on the points alluded to by Dr. Adams respecting 

 seasonal migration, &c. 



BuTEO RUFiNus, Riipp. 



BUTEO VULGARIS. 



The Common Buzzard certainly does not deserve that appel- 

 lation in Egypt. I shot one in the Delta in March 1861, which 

 is the only time I have seen it here. The former species is 

 rather common, varies greatly in plumage, and is a most dan- 

 gerous bird to meddle with when wounded. I have seen an 

 Arab nearly faint with the pain when, having incautiously ap- 

 proached to secure the bird, it buried all four of its powerful 

 talons in his hand, from which they were not easily disengaged. 



CiRCAETUS GALLICUS. 



This species is by no means rare in Egypt, and prefers the 

 open country. Might not this have been the bird Mr. Adams 

 saw and alludes to (p. 9) ? 



MiLVUS iEGYPTIUS (Gm.). 



MiLVUS ATER (Gm.). 



I cannot agree with Dr. Leith Adams in what he says about 

 these birds. The Black Kite is certainly the commoner bird in 

 the Nile Valley above Cairo, though I believe a close examination 

 would show that the Ai-abian is there too in considerable num- 

 bers. In the Delta, however, the reverse is the case ; for of the 

 hundreds I have seen close, and the dozens I have shot, chiefly 

 in order to identify their eggs, there was not a single M. ater. 

 In the neighbourhood of Cairo, where these birds are particu- 



