1921.] B'lrds of Loxi^er Egyjit. 365 



134. Aquila heliaca heliaca. Imperial Eagle. 



I several times observed Eagles soaring in the vicinity 

 of Abu Zabaal, but was unable to identify them to my 

 satisfaction. One "which I saw sitting on the desert on 

 14: February, 1914, 1 was able to identify as the above S[)ecies, 

 from skins in the Giza Museum and notes made on the spot. 



135. Buteo buteo rufiventer. ( = B. desertorum auct.) 



Steppe-Buzzard. 



I never shot one of these birds, although they were not 

 uncommonly seen, but were always wide awake and difficult 

 of approach. A single bird remained in the vicinity of Abu 

 Zabaal throughout September 1918. Also observed at odd 

 times throughout the winter and early spring. 



It is quite possible that some of those seen were referable 

 to Buteo feroa', but I was never quite satisfied that such was 

 the case. Colonel Meinertzhagen has, moreover_, shown 

 that B.ferox cirtensis ranges into southern Palestine (Ibis, 

 1920, p. 241). 



[Mr. M. J. Nicoll saw a pair in the Wadi Hof, apparently 

 breeding, on 1 March, 1910. I saw a pair in the same place 

 on 5 May, 1909. Another pair frequented the Giza gardens 

 in May 1910, and probably bred there, as in June they were 

 seen accompanied by two young birds. — R. S.] 



136. Circus aeruginosus. Marsh-Harrier. 



One or more birds haunted the Birket Accrashi through- 

 out the winter. These were, almost without exception, 

 immature birds. They were frequently mobbed by Hooded 

 Crows, and waxed fat on any wounded birds we were unable 

 to retrieve. A pair seen in the Wadi Natrun on 24 May, 

 1918, were possibly nesting. 



[I saw a pair at Inchas on 12. v. 09, and a single bird at 

 Gheit-el-Nasara on 20. v. 09, so it is quite possible some 

 pairs remain to breed in the Delta. — R. S.j 



137. Circus cyaneus cyaneus. Hen-Harrier. 



Less numerous than the t'ollowing species. Two or three 

 obtained during the winter and early spring. 



