THE IBIS 



EIGHTH SERIES. 



No. XIX. JULY 1905. 



XXIV. — A Contribution to the Ornithology of the Egyptian 

 Soudan. By A. L. Butler, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., &c, Super- 

 intendent of Game Preservation, Soudan Government. 



(Plate VII.) 



The following paper is written in response to the request 

 of the Editors that I would put together for ' The Ibis ' 

 such notes on the birds of the Soudan as I have made during 

 a residence of four years in the country. In excuse for its 

 shortcomings, I can only say that I have had very little time 

 to give to ornithology, that I have not been able to devote 

 any trips entirely to collecting, and that I have not resided, 

 but have only travelled in the Provinces, where the "big 

 game" has had most of my time and attention. During 

 the rains — the principal breeding-season of birds in the 

 Soudan, — owing to the increased difficulty of moving freely 

 with transport animals, I have done very little travelling, and 

 have consequently obtained but few notes on nidification. 

 There is probably in the Nile Valley no better spot for 

 observing migration than Khartoum, as representatives of 

 all the passing species seem to drop into its gardens for a 

 rest ; but, unfortunately, I have generally been absent on 



SER. VIII. — VOL. V. ¥ 



