to the Ornithology of Egypt. 625 



the early spring of 1909 Mr. Bonhote and I saw a pair near 

 Aburoash, and on searching the spot from which they were 

 disturbed found [feathers and pellets containing the remains 

 of Nightjars (Caprimulgus (Bgyptius). 



133. Bubo ascalaphus desertorum Erlanger. 



Bubo ascalaphus desertorum Erlanger, Orn. Monatsb. v. 

 p. 192 (1897). 



I have an Eagle-Owl now alive at my house which I 

 purchased during the summer of 1907 from a native, who 

 told me that he caught it at the Giza Pyramids. This bird, 

 which is larger, paler, and less thickly marked with black 

 than typical B. ascalaphus, is comparable to a specimen 

 picked up dead by Capt. Flower near the Giza Pyramids 

 and now in the Tring Museum. These two birds answer 

 to the description of B. a. desertorum, and for this reason 

 I for the present place them under that name. They 

 are certainly very distinct from typical specimens of 

 B. a. ascalaphus. 



Bubo a. desertorum is beautifully figured in Whitaker's 

 ' Birds of Tunisia,' vol. ii. p. 80. 



134. Athene noctua glaux. 

 Carina meridionalis Shelley, p. 178. 



The southern form of the Little Owl is resident and 

 extremely abundant in the Province. It may frequently be 

 heard and seen during the daytime, but becomes more active 

 and noisy at dusk and dawn. 



The usual number of a brood of this species is four. I have 

 frequently seen these Owls catch the lizards {Agama stellio) 

 which are extremely abundant in the Zoological Gardens, 

 where they were introduced from Alexandria. A number of 

 passerine birds are killed annually in our aviaries by these 

 Owls, which strike at them through the wire netting. 



135. Gyps fulvus. 



Gyps fulvus Shelley, p. 210. 



A large Vulture which was apparently of this species was 

 seen circling over the Zoological Gardens on the 17th of 

 December, 1904. 



