Capt. G. E. Shelley on Egyptian Ornitholoyi/. 141 



once near Cairo in the beginning of April, and saw, I believe, a 

 second specimen. 



129. LiNOTA CANNABiNA (L.). Linnet. 



Very plentiful in the Delta in winter. I have never observed 

 it above Cairo, and believe that it does not remain to breed in 

 the country. 



130. Erythrospiza githaginea, Licht. Desert Bullfinch. 

 This pretty little bird, rendered so conspicuous by its bright 



red bill, is very plentiful in Upper Egypt and Nubia, where it 

 may generally be met with in pairs along the confines of the 

 desert, or in flocks. It invades the cultivated land for its food, 

 which consists entirely of small seeds. Its flight very closely 

 resembles that of the Linnet. 



131. Passer domesticus (L.). Common Sparrow. 

 Extremely abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia. 



132. Passer salicarius, Vieill. Spanish Sparrow. 



All those who have written on the ornithology of Egypt, 

 appear to agree that this is an extremely abundant species. 

 Mr. E. C. Taylor (Ibis 1867, p. 65) says that it is more abun- 

 dant even than P. domesticus. I, however, only recognized it in 

 Egypt on one occasion, when I shot three out of a flock at 

 Golosaneh on the 1st of February. I was constantly on the 

 look-out for this species during my last visit, but always un- 

 successfully. On both occasions I have not commenced collect- 

 ing birds before February ; and at that season this species may 

 be leaving the country, for it certainly does not breed abundantly 

 in Egypt. Dr. A. L. Adams says (Ibis, 1864, p. 23) that in 

 November and December, during the ripening of the " dhurra," 

 Spanish sparrows assemble in enormous numbers and do great 

 damage to the crops. 



133. CoRvus umbrinus, Hedenborg. Brown-necked Raven. 

 This small Raven is very plentiful throughout Egypt and 



Nubia, wherever the rocks afford it a suitable home. 



It builds both in rocks and trees, in the latter instance 

 generally selecting the crown of some lofty Date-palm. 



