1 92 1.] the Near East and Tropical East Africa. 635 



lOlj mill. 93). (Julmen of nudes 21-22 mm. and for 

 females 20 mm. 



This is the cliaraeteristic race of the core of the Egyptian 

 Delta, its southern breeding-limit being about the line Delta 

 Barrage-Caliub-InchaSj whence its range extends north-east 

 and north-west ahnost to the sea-coast, but always keeping 

 well within the Delta and not on the outskirts. 



In winter they wander, when they have been obtained at 

 Griza and Kantara. A bird of this race found breeding at 

 Helouan is an exceplion. 



Two breeding birds from near Benha, some 35 miles 

 north of Cairo, are rather pale for typical nigricans., but are 

 nmch too {[arVior maculata. During April, Nicoll and I 

 motored from Cairo to Benha. About Caliub the birds 

 rapidly changed from macidata to nigricans, and at Benha 

 nearly every bird was typical nigricans. 



Galerida cristata maculata Brehm, 1858. 



Galerida cristata altirostris Brehm (cf. Hartert, Nov. Zool. 

 1919, p. 30). 



87 birds examined from Port Said and Kantara on 

 the Suez Canal (Feb. and March), the northern edge of the 

 Delta (Jan., Feb., June, Oct.), western edge of the Delta 

 (Nov.), south-eastern edge of the Delta (April and June), 

 Alexandria (Oct.), (Caliub and Benha (April), near Cairo, 

 Giza, Pyramids, etc. (Jan. to March, May, Aug. to Dec), 

 Helouan (March, April, Nov., Dec), south of Helouan at 

 lyat, Wasta, Khi/am, Kenah, Esna, Sohag, and Luxor (Jan. 

 to March, Sept. to Dec). 



In fresh autumn plumage the breast-spotting is almost a 

 smudge, the spotting only appearing fairly distinct after the 

 feather edgings have worn oil" ; but the spotting at all 

 seasons is large and not clear-cut, and never so dense as in 

 nigricans. Upper parts paler thiui in nigricans, with less and 

 less intense bhick in the centre of the feathers. Crest 

 without so much black as in nigricans. 



This race shows much variation in both the upper and 

 under parts. In the series from Helouan some approach 

 nigricans, whilst a breeding bird from that district is a 



