1 92 1.] Birds of Lower Egi/pt. 373 



172. Nyroca fuligula. Tufted Duck, 



Although numerous elsewhere in Egypt — where deeper 

 water occurs — this species rarely turned up at Abu Zabaal ; 

 but I obtained a few, notably on 26 October, 191C, when a 

 pair were shot out of several seen. 



173. Pelecanus sp. ? Pelican. 



I saw small lots of Pelicans flying over during the 

 autumn, but they never alighted to my knowledge. On 

 6 August, 1918, three flew over at no great height, going 

 towards the Nile, and a flock of over fifty were observed 

 steering a similar course on 2G November, 1918. 



174. Podiceps ruficollis capensis. Little Grebe. 



On 11 November, 1918, when returning to Abu Zabaal by 

 train, I saw some birds on a pool of deep water in the base 

 of some disused quarries. Two days later I walked up there 

 to see what they were, and was agreeably surprised to 

 identify them as this species. I was astonished to observe 

 three young birds still in the down, one pair of birds in 

 full summer plumage, and three adults in winter plumage. 

 There are practically no reeds or vegetation about the place, 

 which is surrounded by desert. The nest was a mass of 

 rubbish moored against a rock, and was extremely con- 

 spicuous. I secured one of the adults in summer plumage 

 for purposes of identification, and on 18 November Mr. J. L. 

 Bonhote and Major F. W. Borman came down to see the 

 others. Little Grebes probably always remain there, and 

 although only a short mile from my quarters I liad never 

 really investigated the place before. Throughout the winter 

 of 1918-19 the numbers increased somewhat, and on 6 April, 

 1919, I found a nest containing four fresh eggs, having four 

 days previously taken an odd egg from another nest. On 

 this date four birds were in summer plunuige and five in 

 winter. My departure from Abu Zabaal soon after pre- 

 vented me making further observations of these interesting- 

 birds. 



[A clutch of two eggs in my collection was taken at 

 Inchas on 5 June, 1909 : probably a second brood. — R. S.] 



