202 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



shrill piping and whistling of the dark, shadowy 

 shore birds. 



Besides Gulls, the visitors to the Nile may see 

 Terns, for there are some seven or eight species, 

 but naturally these birds keep nearer the sea than 

 elsewhere, yet it is pleasant to cherish the hope, 

 founded on frequent reports, that Terns as well as 

 several other birds that love the water are somewhat 

 extending their area. Owing to the new barrage 

 schemes making great permanent inland lakes 

 which never existed before, the birds find a new 

 home suitable to them, and which they have already 

 begun to show they thoroughly appreciate. At 

 home and in many other countries, the great 

 reservoirs which supply the cities have always been 

 favourite bird haunts, and it seems that here is 

 one more benefit bestowed on Egypt consequent 

 on British occupation. When at Lake Menzaleh 

 this last winter, one of the most wonderful sights 

 was the number of Terns, and on one occasion 

 when I was trying to get near to Flamingo, a great 

 flock of many hundreds of the large Caspian Tern 

 came near enough for identification. 



