1 92 1.] Birds of Lower E(jypt, 245 



[I only found ibe nest of this species on one occasion — on 

 16 May, 1910 — and, unfortunately, the bird deserted. The 

 nest was on a rocky ridge not far from the Moqattam Hills, 

 and was placed on the ground between some flat rocks, the 

 edge of the nest being surrounded by small stones. Young 

 a few days old were observed on 25 May^ 1910. and a fully- 

 fledged young bird on 2'6 May. This species was common 

 in the Wady Hof on 5 May, 1909, but appeared not to have 

 then laid.— R. S.] 



20. Ammomanes phcenicurus arenicolor. Gould's Desert 

 Lark. 



[I observed this bird near Abbassia in January and 

 Februar}^ 1910. Mr. NicoU obtained a fully-fledged young- 

 bird in the Wadi Natrun on 25 May, 1910.— R. S.] 



21--24. Galerida cristata nigricans, altirostris, moeritica, 

 and caroli. Egyptian Crested Larks. 



Common and resident. Abu Zabal appears to have both 

 G. c. nigricans and 6r. c. altirostris, and I have frequently 

 observed what appeared to be birds referable to both sub- 

 species obviously paired. The latter lighter type was more 

 numerous. I have specimens of both forms shot at the 

 same place. They breed from the first week in April until 

 the end of May, but on one occasion I saw young birds on 

 the wing on 10 April. 



I found eggs of G. c. mwritica in the Fayiim Province 

 on 14 March, 1917, and saw G. c. caroli feeding young in 

 the Wadi Natrun in mid-May, 1918. I never found more 

 than four eggs in a nest, and usually only three, but Mr. J. L. 

 Bonhote found a five clutch near the coast. 



\_G. c. nigricans. My earliest date is for two eggs at Abu 

 Roash on 22. iii. 09 ; my latest date for several clutches is 

 Inchas 29. v. 19. Three appears to be the normal clutch, 

 though I have two clutches of four. There is great variation 

 between different clutches. 



G. c. moeritica. One egg fresh near Lake Qarun, 

 30. iii. 10 ; two clutches of two hard-set, 31. iii. 10. — R. S.] 



