50 Mr. E. C. Taylor's Ornithological 



most conspicuous public edifices of the Egyptian villages, and 

 frequenting the open country in large flocks — so lai'ge, indeed > 

 that with three guns we have killed as many as 100 head in 

 about two hours. I have often seen these birds, when they come 

 down to the Nile to drink, actually settle, and sit on the water 

 like sea-gulls, which struck me as rather an abnormal practice for 

 pigeons. This species differs from Columba livia in having the 

 lower part of the back and rump of a darker shade of grey 

 than the wings, instead of white as in that species. Bill black. 

 Irides orange. It never perches on trees. 



49. TuRTUR sENEGALENSis, Linn. Cambaian Turtle. 



Turtur agi/ptiacus, Temm. 

 Very abundant throughout the country, especially frequenting 

 the groves of gum-acacia. We found this bird exceedingly good 

 to eat. 



50. Pterocles exustus, Temm. Singed Sand Grouse. 

 Abundant on the borders of the desert, in small flocks. Rather 



wild, and difficult to shoot. This bird is very good eating. 



51. Pterocles senegalensis, Latham. Senegal Sand- 



Grouse. 

 Occasionally killed, but by far less abundant than the pre- 

 ceding species. In both species there is a very marked differ- 

 ence in plumage between the sexes. 



52. CoTURNix VULGARIS. Common Quail. 



Abundant ; especially frequenting the young wheat. Of the 

 five Rasorial birds killed by us in Egypt, this is the only one 

 which is included by Mr. Gould in his ' Birds of Europe.' 



GRALLATORES. 



53. Grus cinerea. Common Crane. 



Rather rare, and very wary and difficvilt of approach. 



54. x^RDEA cinerea. Commou Heron. 

 Tolerably abundant. 



55. Ardea russata. Buff-backed Heron. 



Ardea bubulcus, Savigny. 

 Excessively numerous all through the country, and very tame 



