1 92 1.] Birds of Loiver Egypt. 261 



09. Hirundo daurica rafula. ReJ-rumped Swallow. 



Rarely observed at Abu Zabal, but on 1 May, 1917, a 

 fair number of these birds were seen hawking for flies over 

 the reed-beds at tlie Birket Accrashi. 



•100. Delichon urWca urbica ? House-Martin. 

 Never very numerous, but observed at various times in 

 spring and autumn. Six seen on 18 April, 191G. 



101. Riparia riparia riparia. Sand-Martiu. 



This species passes through Abu Zabal in fair numbers, 

 but is not readily distinguished from the following sub- 

 species, and, in consequence, I am not certain of dates. 



102. Riparia riparia littoralis. Shelley's Sand-Martin. 

 Abundant from the end of March throughout the summer, 



breeding in colonies in the sand-banks. One large colony 

 had their nesting-holes in a sand-bank not more than 

 eighteen inches high in a sand-pit near the Birket Accrashi. 



1 took eggs there on 10 April, 19 16, and had difficulty in 

 finding a clutch of five. On 8 April, 1918, I found many 

 nests containing five eggs. Major F. AV. Borman showed 

 me a thriving colony in some trenches at the School of 

 Instruction close to a busy camp at Zeitoun. 



[Very large colonies at Shubra Island and in both banks 

 of the Nile between Rod-el-Farag and the Barrage. It also 

 nests at Abbassia and at Abu Roash. I took many eggs 

 between 18-22 March in 1909-10.— li. S.] 



103. Riparia obsoleta obsoleta. Pale Crag-Martin. 

 Although this species was never observed at Abu Zabal 



it is not uncommon near the Citadel in Cairo and in the 

 clifEs behind. I found a nest there in an old lime-kiln on 



2 April, 1918, on which the bird was sitting. Owing to the 

 position of the nest I was unable to investigate it. This 

 species also breeds inside the domes of some of the houses in 

 the main streets of Heliopolis, and I have seen them feeding- 

 young there in Aj)ril. Captain W. Bigger found fresh eggs 

 at Luxor on 19 February, 1917. 



