Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornithology. 43 



22. TiNNUNCULUs ALAUDARius, (Gm.). Kestrel. 



By far the most abundant Hawk in Egypt. On one occasion 

 we saw at least one hundred in a single clump of Palm trees, 

 attracted there, no doubt, by the Locusts which were passing in 

 dense continuous clouds beneath them. These flights of Locusts 

 spread this year (1870) throughout the country, clearing whole 

 districts of every green crop as they passed. 



23. TiNNUNCULUs CENCHRis (Naum.). Lesser Kestrel. 



1 only shot this bird once ; this was towards the end of March, 

 near Benisooef. 



Dr. Heuglin (Ibis, 1861, p. 72) states that the Lesser Kestrel 

 ranges throughout Egypt and Nubia, and is very common during 

 the spring in Lower Egypt, especially round Alexandria. 



24. MiLvus iEGYPTius, Gm. Parasitic Kite. 



This is a very common bird in Egypt, where it frequents every 

 village or place where there is a chance of its obtaining filth. It 

 is extremely curious and audacious in search of its food, often 

 following the sportsman for a considerable distance ; but I never 

 observed it capture even a wounded bird, although I have seen 

 it occasionally swoop at them. 



Having one day shot a Kite upon a sandbank, I was soon sur- 

 rounded by about thirty others approaching from all points of 

 the horizon, although previously I had not seen one of them ; 

 when I stood up they kept out of shot, but as soon as I sat down 

 by the dead bird, they circled round close over head. I have 

 also often attracted them by sitting down and placing my hand- 

 kerchief before me, and occasionally moving it. 



They begin breeding in March, usually selecting an Acacia 

 tree near some village. 



Their nest appears invariably to contain some piece of old rag. 



25. MiLVUs MIGRANS (Bodd.) . Black Kite. 



I entirely agree with Mr. E. C. Taylor, that the number of 

 individuals of this species cannot be compared with those of the 

 last; for while M. cegyptius is undoubtedly extremely plentiful 

 in Egypt, I have never been able to obtain any conclusive evi- 

 dence of this bird having been killed in Egypt at all. Many 

 black-billed specimens which we shot, the most doubtful of 



