548 Csi^t. A. W . Boyd on Birds of the [Ibis, 



Alauda arvensis. Skylark. 



The first arrived at Mohamraedia in the last week of 

 October, and during the first four days of November there 

 was a very noticeable movement of large numbers at Romani 

 from east to west. A week later there were still many about, 

 but the east to west movement was not so definite; towards 

 the end of the month tliey were to be seen commonly all 

 along the north road from Romani eastwards. An increase 

 in numbers w^as noticed at Mazar about New YearVDay, 

 1917. 



Corydus cristatus. Crested Lark. 



This bird occurred very plentifully in suitable spots such 

 as Kubri, but was not to be seen except in the damper parts 

 of the desert where there was plenty of low vegetation; tlius 

 there were a few at Mohammedia and Romani al)out certain 

 patches of ground, and again near Bir-el-Abd, while at 

 Tillul some distance further east they suddenly became 

 abundant and disappeared in a few miles. They always 

 seem to be very tame birds. 



Calandrella brachydactyla. Short-toed Lark. 



In the spring I saw only one small bunch — at Shallufa 

 on March 26. In the autumn large flocks containing several 

 hundreds were common near Romani and Kantara from 

 Sept. 6 to the end of the month. 



Sturnus vulgaris. Starling. 



First seen at Mohammedia on Oct. 23 and in considerable 

 flocks throughout November. In mid-winter they were not 

 to be seen regularly about the desert, though I noticed them 

 at Mazar on the last day of the year. 



Corvus umbrinus. Brown-necked Raven. 



To be seen everywhere from Suez along the Canal, usually 

 in pairs ; near the Canal I never saw more than ten together 

 (at Kubri in June), but they were remarkably numerous 

 along the north road at Bir-el-Abd, Bir-el-Salmana, and 

 Mazar — frequently the commonest bird by far. 



