3u,i'^ ] r?ERNEV, Oruiihologist in Egypt and Palestine. 



43 



An Ornithologist with the A.I.F. in Egypt and 

 Palestine. 



By Tkoopkk V. L. 1)Erxi:v, l^.A.O.U., Queensland. 



The first few months of my residence in Egypt were spent on a 

 patcli of desert that was quite the most uninteresting spot 

 imaginal)le, with practically no bird-life. However, since tlien 

 campaigning has taken me over much of Palestine — a trip I would 

 not have missed for a great deal. To the naturalist and antiquarian 

 there has been almost daily something of interest to be seen. 

 The life of a trooper is rough, of course — ^very rough ; dirt is 

 plentiful, and washing water is scarce ; food is plain — ^very plain — • 

 and generally not quite enough of it. But still we must not 

 complain ; there is a war on, and we did not come out here as 

 Cook's tourists. Having been used to the bush — to the back- 

 blocks — for so long, I do not feel the roughness of the company 

 and things in general as would a man used only to town life. My 



The Australian White Egret. 



PHOTO. BY W. H. D. LE SOUEF, C.M.Z.S. 



