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



with Erythropus vespertinus (Linn.), with which it seems to 

 have considerable affinity. I have observed in the former species 

 [T. cenchris) that the sexes appear to keep separate in their pere- 

 grinations, the females decidedly preponderating in numbers. 

 The reverse is the case with the elegant little Merlin, which Dr. 

 Adams seems not to have met with. Stragglers are seen occa- 

 sionally during the winter months, but in March and April it 

 is rather a common bird. The birds shot in Egypt are almost 

 invariably males, as I have only seen two females out of dozens 

 shot by myself and others. 



Circus pallidus (Sykes). 



Circus cyaneus. 



Circus cineraceus (Mont.). 



All these Harriers are found in Egypt, the first being the most 

 abundant. The females of the two former species differ so 

 slightly that it is very difficult to distinguish them ; but the 

 male birds are easily recognizable. Of C. cineraceus, all the 

 specimens I obtained were females, which sex has greatly the 

 advantage of numbers in all three species. 



Strix flammea. 



BrACHYOTUS iEGOLIUS (Bp.). 



Bubo ascalaphus. 



Athene meridionalis (Risso). 



I have shot all these four species of Owls in Egypt, where all, 

 except the Short-eared, are resident throughout the year. The 

 latter comes in April. 



It is rather surprising that the little Scops zorca (Bp.), so 

 abundant in passing at Malta, should not be found in Egypt. 



Caprimulgus isabellinus, Riipp. 



This is not a common bird in Egypt, and I found it for the 

 first time last year in the Faioum, where they inhabited cracks 

 and excavations in the earth. I procured two distinct varieties, 

 one much darker than the other. As evening approached, they 

 would make their appearance, flitting about upon noiseless wing, 

 like ghosts in the twilight, and at intervals emitting a subdued 

 croaking cry. I suspect that C. europceus is here also, as I once 



