192 1.] Birds of Loiver Egypt. 355 



70. Prinia gracilis deltse. Delta Giaceful Warbler. 



This bird is coniinon and resident at Abu Zabal, where I 

 found its eggs, usuidly about the beginning of March ; but 

 they continue to breed throughout the spring, and 1 have 

 seen young birds in the nest as late as 14 August. Tamarisk 

 bushes, small palius, sont bushes, and creepers like honey-- 

 suckle are the usual building-sites for the nest, which is 

 generally built of grasses and lined and decorated with 

 pieces of raw cotton. 



[The nest of this bird is entered by a hole in the side, 

 near the top. The usual clutch consists of 3 or 4 eggs, 

 and I never met with 5. April and May appear to be the 

 principal breeding months. — 11. S.] 



71. Prinia gracilis natronensis. Natrun Graceful Warbler. 

 I secured the eggs of this subspecies in the Wadi Natrun 



late in May, 1918. Beyond one very deep red clutch of 

 eggs I saw no difference in the nest, eggs, or habits from 

 the preceding race. 



• 72. Cisticola cisticola cisticola. Fantail Warbler. 



( ;ommon and resident. I found the eggs of this species 

 as early as 19 February and as late as early June, but April 

 is the month when they are most numerous. My collection 

 contains a wonderful variety of types, ranging from pure 

 white through red-spotted on a white ground to Linnet- and 

 even Thrush-like types, whilst the only five clutch 1 found 

 consisted of eggs siniilar to those of the Spotted Flycatcher 

 in colour. Two to four appears to be the normal number of 

 eo-D-s in a clutch. The nest is beautifully built and resembles 

 the type of purse which is provided with a string to draw 

 tight the mouth. It is usually built in the rank grass which 

 borders the fields and canals, and is generally fairly near 

 the ground. Occasionady a clump of rushes or other 

 herbage surrounded by water is selected. Many nests are 

 destroyed by the natives, who burn the grass to destroy 

 locusts, etc. Another peculiarity of this species is its habit 

 of building more than one nest, for uo apparent reason, in 



