Mr. S. S. Allen on the Birds of Egypt and Nubia. 235 



larly abundant, feeding upon the refuse of the slaughter-houses 

 and any other carrion they can get hold of, the numbers are 

 pretty equally divided, being, if anything, in favour of M. 

 agyptius. 



The Arabian Kite may be seen breeding in any village in the 

 Delta with the most complete fearlessness. A pair nested an- 

 nually in a tree in the court of the house where I resided in 

 Cairo, which enabled nie to study their domestic economy to 

 great advantage. The waxy-yellow bill and red colour readily 

 distinguish the adult birds of this species; but the young are 

 easily confounded with M. ater by any one not accustomed to 

 them. 



Elanus melanopterus 



I found equally common, at least as high up as Thebes (where 

 several were seen and shot), as it is in the Delta. It is said to 

 breed in the Mokattam Hills, behind Cairo, but I have never yet 

 been able to meet with the nest. The iris in the immature 

 specimen is of a bright salmon-colour, in the adult of a brilliant 

 carmine-red; and this bird, when recently shot, with its pure 

 white breast, delicate dove-coloured back, and black shoulders, 

 is an exquisitely beautiful object, though the soft. Owl-like 

 feathers of the face and throat and breast invariably lose their 

 delicate gloss when the skin has been prepared some days. 

 This species is crepuscular in its habits, feeding largely on mice 

 and beetles, as well as on small birds. It has the sclerotic ring of 

 the eye very deep, and altogether shows strong Strigine affi- 

 nities. 



TiNNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS. 

 TiNNUNCULUS CENCHRIS. 



The Kestrel (which, by the way, runs much smaller in size 

 than British or Maltese specimens), as Dr. Adams observes, is 

 excessively abundant in Egypt, and breeds in April, choosing for 

 that purpose palm-trees, sycamores, or old ruins, particularly the 

 half-ruined "koubbehs" or raosque-tombs of Arab saints, which 

 are of frequent occurrence. 



Its near relation, the Lesser Kestrel, is not seen in winter, but 

 comes northward in March and April in flocks, often associated 



b3 



