502 Mr. M. J, Nicoll — Contributions 



We saw, moreover, many birds — Flamingos, Pelicans, and 

 Ducks — fly through the lines o£ reeds when put up by our 

 steamer. The annual "take^^ o£ water-fowl on Lake 

 Menzaleh must be very great. Most of the birds are 

 sent to local markets, but a good many reach Cairo, by 

 which time, however, they are nearly dead from the rough 

 handling which they have experienced during and subsequent 

 to capture. 



A long line of Flamingos was seen daily from the " Rest- 

 House," and their hoarse cries were continually heard, 

 although the birds themselves were at least a mile from 

 the edge of the lake. I saw a bird in first plumage with 

 black legs in the market-place at Gheit-el-Nassara. 



We were unable to ascertain for certain whether Flamingos 

 nested on Lake Menzaleh or not. Some of the local 

 fishermen assured us that they did, but others said that 

 they were migratory. It is probable that the majority 

 of Flamingos seen on the lake during the winter are 

 immigrants, but there seems to be no reason why some 

 should not remain and breed. 



Phalacrocorax carbo. 



Phalacrocorax carbo Shelley, p. 295. 



Large quantities of Cormorants were seen on the lake 

 near Matariah ; all of them appeared to be of this species. 

 I have one skin of this Cormorant, which was shot from a 

 flock of twelve near Giza, December 1907. 



Pelecanus crispus. 

 Pelecanus crispus Shelley, p. 293. 



Several Pelicans of this species were seen on Lake 

 Menzaleh, near Matariah. 



Pelecanus onocrotalus. 



Pelecanus onocrotalus Shelley, p. 293. 



This appears to be the most abundant species of Pelican 

 in Lower Egypt during the winter. Great numbers were 

 seen on Lake Menzaleh. 



Judging from the specimens now living in the Giza 



