386 Oh the Birds of Loiver Egypt. [Ibis, 



[A common breeding species at Incbas. Dates for fresb 

 eggs varied from 15 May to 15 June in 1909. The largest 

 clutcb obtained was one of six. — R. S.] 



223. Porphyrio madagascariensis. Green-backed Galli- 



uule. 

 At the end of April 1919 I was at Kantara. A gang of 

 natives were cutting down the reeds, and the corporal in 

 charge of this anti-mosquito measure informed me that he 

 had had some eggs brought to him the previous day, which, 

 from his description, I think must have belonged to this 

 species. Unfortunately, they had been destroyed. I cer- 

 tainly found the birds numerous in the immediate vicinity 

 on the shores of Lake Menzaleh. I once saw Gallinules at 

 Inchas. 



224. Fulica atra atra. Coot. 



Arrives in October, and remains at Abu Zabaal until 

 March. In some winters very numerous, and in others com- 

 paratively rare. AVhen shooting, on one occasion, I saw 

 these birds in such numbers that two collided in mid-air, 

 and both fell and were picked up dead. 



225. Coturnix coturnix coturnix. Quail. 



A few are resident, but are rarely met with. From 

 3 February to the end of March large numbers pass through, 

 affording good sport. The second week in March marks the 

 height of the migration at Abu Zabaal. Fewer birds are 

 met with on their return flight in September. On 18 April, 

 1916, I took a clutch of eight Quail's eggs, in a field at 

 Inchas. They were quite fresh. On 20 January, 1917, a 

 native brought me three fresh Quail's eygs, which were all 

 that were left of eight found in a nest, also at Inchas, and, 

 when shooting there in May 1917, a single fresh egg was 

 also brought to me. 



[Fresh eggs were brought to me by a native in April, 

 189-1, from Ayat, and two fresh eggs from Luxor, on 

 22 March, 1910. An oviduct egg with hard shell is unspotted 

 and the colour of a pale English Partridge's egg. — K. S.] 



