Expedition to the White Nile. 271 



parties of three to six birds which looked exactly like Gijps 

 fulvus, but were probably young examples of this species. 



93. ■'^Neophron percnopterus (Linn.). 



Fairly common and well distributed^ but nowhere seen in 

 large numbers. There were a good many in Omdurman. 



94. Ibis ^thiopica (Lath.). 



Fairly common on the whole, the Sacred Ibis was dis- 

 tributed in pairs or small parties of five or six here and there 

 to within a few miles of Khartum. They were very tame, 

 allowing us to approach within 20 yards of them as they 

 strutted about on the short grass by the river. When flying 

 away, the bird looks very white, the wings being but narrowly 

 margined with black, while the black scapulars, drooping and 

 conspicuous when the bird is stationary, are scarcely noticed 

 in the former case. Seen from underneath or when flying 

 towards the observer, the lines of bare skin on the underside 

 of the wings are striking, and have the appearance of blood- 

 stains. 



Adult. Iris dark marble-brown; bill, head, neck, legs, and 

 feet jet-black j bare skin under the wings bright vermilion. 



95. *Plegadis palcinellus (Linn.). 



Distributed along the river in small numbers, but some- 

 times in considerable flocks on the " oyster-beds.^' 



96. ■^Hagedashia haoedash (Lath.). 



Uncommon and generally solitary, but sometimes con- 

 sorting with the preceding species, from which it can only 

 be distinguished, at a distance, by its much larger size. 



97. ^Platalea alba Scop. 



Fairly common in small flocks wading about the edge of 

 the river. We saw no black-legged Spoonbills. 



98. Herodias ralloides (Scop.). 



The Squacco Heron was distributed in small numbers 

 along the river. Either the birds were single, or two or three 

 were together, but they were never in sufficient numbers to 

 form a flock. 



