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Some Notes on a few Egyptian Desert Birds.


Near Bueb we came across another rather rare bird, the

Egyptian Goatsucker ( Caprbnulgus aegyptidus), a pair of them

were sitting on the sand among some low scrub. I thought

there might be a uest near, as it was late in March and the birds

had paired, but I could not find it.


The Egyptian Swift ( Cypselus murinus) builds in the desert,

and circles round and round above the arid sand, far from the

river. Its colouring is soft pale buff with white on throat and

darkish underneath, and dark on its wings.


Swifts and Swallows seem to be continually eating flies,

yet the ‘ plague of flies’ in Egypt is no whit diminished.


Another inhabitant of the desert world is the Pale Crag-

martin ( Cotile obsoleta). It builds among rocks, under the

sheltering eaves of some overhanging ledge. Its nest is also

occasionally found in rock-hewn tombs, such as those at El

Bersheh or Beni Hassan. We also found it among the ruined

pyramids of Meroe. This Martin is of a soft pale brownish

colour, with deeper shades on head, wings and tail, and on the

latter a few white spots. The underneath parts almost white.

I have often watched them flying in wide circles catching insects

on the wing, as others of their kind do ; I have also watched them

sitting on the ground moving about and making little darts, as if

hunting for, and catching, creeping insects, though I tried hard

I never actually saw them seize anything. It would be interest¬

ing to know if this way of foraging is resorted to by the swallow

tribe, and if so, for what reason?


The Desert Chat, or Desert Wheatear ( Saxicola deserti ) is

found all the year round in Egypt and Nubia, and. the Northern

Soudan. Though frequenting the river and canal banks, it also

ranges far from the Nile cultivation and is to be seen at some

isolated oasis or desert well. Its feathers are prettily marked in

browns of various shades, and black and white, it has a black

beak and legs.


Two or three other Chats are distinctly desert birds. The

White-Rumped Chat ( Saxicola leucopygci) is conspicuous among

them. These Chats are generally found in rocky places, and far

into the desert. Sometimes their flight is peculiar, and has

earned for them the name of ‘Tumblers.’ They rise quickly,



