Ornithology of the Egyptian Soudan. 383 



The Spur-wing is one of the worst birds imaginable for 

 food, being coarse, rank, and fishy. 



265. Sarcidiornis melanonota (Penn.). 



The "Nukta" is very abundant in the swampy regions of 

 the Upper White Nile. In March 1902 I saw it in great 

 numbers on the Bahr-el-Ghazal and Jur Rivers, and in 

 smaller quantities northwards tp Duem. It seems a better 

 bird for the table in the Soudan than in India. 



266. Nettopus auritus (Bodd.). 



a. <J • Bahr-el-Ghazal, March 1902. 



I have only met with this charming little bird on the 

 secluded waters of the Bahr-el-Ghazal, near Meshra-el-Ilek. 

 There it is not uncommon in small parties of five or six. 

 Like other Cotton-Teal it is very swift on the wing. 



267. Dendrocycna viduata (Linn.). 



The pretty White-faced Whistling-Teal is a common 

 resident species. I have seen it from Gedaref on the east 

 to El Obeid in Kordofan, and from Khartoum the whole way 

 up the White Nile and Bahr-el-Ghazal. At Khartoum it is 

 only common in winter and spring, when the falling Nile 

 exposes the mud-banks and islands. In the rains it may be 

 found on many inland pools and water-courses which are dry 

 in the hot weather. 



268. Dendrocycna fulva (Gm.). 



I have only come across the Larger Whistling-Teal once, 

 at Kaka on the White Nile, on September 28th, 1902, when 

 I shot one from among a flock of the White-faced species. 



269. Chenalopex ^egyptiacus (Linn.). 



The Egyptian Goose is common throughout the Soudan, 

 but nowhere more abundant than on the White Nile a little 

 south of Khartoum. Further up the river, where the mud- 

 banks give way to marshes and " sudd," its numbers decrease. 



I am inclined to think that the autumn and earlier months 

 of winter are its principal breeding-seasons. At any rate by 

 February immense packs congregate, with many immature 

 birds among them, while in this month a large proportion 



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