Capt. G. E, Shelley on Egijptian Ornithulugy. 309 



43. Triclaria cyanogastra (Vieill.). 



My attention was first drawn to this bird by hearing a rather 

 agreeable song proceeding from the top of a tall tree : on looking 

 up I could see nothing but a good-sized green bird, and was 

 surprised to find on shooting, that it was a Parrot. At first I 

 thought there must be some mistake, and that I had shot the 

 wrong bird ; but the natives assured me that this kind of Parrot 

 sings ; indeed they call it " Sabia sicca," Sabia being the name 

 they give to the Thrush. 



44. Cham^pelia talpacoti, Sw. 



I only noticed these birds round one or two farms, where they 

 associated in small flocks, feeding on the ground in company 

 with various kinds of small birds, and were remarkably shy : on 

 the approach of any one they were invariably the first to take 

 the alarm and fly away. I saw them occasionally perched upon 

 the roofs of outhouses. 



45. Aramides saracura (Spix). 



Almost every marsh and small piece of water has two or 

 three of these birds constantly round it. They are very shy, 

 retreating noiselessly to the nearest shelter on the approach of 

 any one. Towards evening numbers of them congregate and 

 utter their loud call-note, which very much resembles the word 

 " saracura " rapidly repeated. 



XXV. — Contributions to the Ornithology of Egypt, By Captain 

 G. E. Shelley, F.R.G.S., F.G.S., &c. 

 [Concluded from p. 147.] 

 161. Recurvirostra avocetta, L. Avocet. 

 By no means abundant. I met with it in flocks on two oc- 

 casions : — once in the Delta, in February ; and once at Golosaneh, 

 on the 11th of March, when I killed two specimens. 



163. NuMENius ARCUATUS, L. Curlcw. 



Abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia, but most numerous in 

 the Delta and the Fayoom. It probably remains in the country 

 throughout the year ; for I fired at a bird which I believe to have 

 been the Common Curlew at Ermeut on the 24th of April. 



