630 Mr. M. J. Nicoil — Contributions 



is exceedingly bold and mischievous. I have seen it snatch 

 meat from the hands of the keepers walking through the 

 Gardens, and on several occasions have observed it grab a 

 fish from the bill of a Jabiru Stork ! On one occasion a 

 Kite took away a puttee from one of our men, and on 

 another occasion the head keeper reported that a Kite had 

 stolen a white skull-cap from the head of the boy who feeds 

 and looks after our three examples of Balaniceps rex. 



For a short time after leaving the nest the young of this 

 species have black bills, but in healthy birds these soon 

 turn waxy yellow. I have, however, seen examples of 

 " adults " in midsummer with black bills, but feel sure that 

 this is a sign of ill-health, for all these individuals had the 

 plumage much worn, and were, moreover, infested with 

 feather-lice. 



154. Pernis apivorus. 

 Pernis ajnvorus Shelley, p. 199. 



The Honey-Buzzard is an autumn visitor to the Province. 

 I have no records of its occurrence at other times of the 

 year. One individual frequented the Zoological Gardens 

 during August 1906. 



155. Falco peregrinus. 



Falco peregrinus Shelleyj p. 186. 



The Peregrine is possibly resident throughout the year, 

 but personally I have only met with it from autumn to 

 early spring. I have at present no skins of this species 

 from Egypt, and have, to the best of my belief, not met with 

 F. punicus, which should occur here. 



A magiiificent specimen of F. peregrinus has been an 

 inmate of one of our cages in the Gardens for the past 

 seven years and is still in the best of health. 



During the late autumn and winter of 1908 Dotterel 

 [Eudromias morinellus) were very abundant on the edge of the 

 desert near the Giza Pyramids, and possibly it was owing to 

 this fact that Peregrines were also numerous. The ground 

 was lit;; red with tufts of Dotterels' feathers, and I frequently 

 saw Peregrines dash down from the desert and strike 



