Some Notes on a fezv Egyptian Desert Birds. 31


What sweet trills and clear liquid notes were poured from that

small vibrating throat, and what a joy to hear him sing.


Far away from the haunts of men, in the wild desert

“ Waddys,” where the dry camelthorn, and withered Haifa grass

flourish, and trailing plants of Colocinth shake off hard seed-balls

to roll about on the smooth sand, where the only water visible is

the phantom lake of some fast-vanishing mirage, and the only

shade is thrown by barren rocks ; such a place is the home of

the Desert Partridge (Ammoperdix cholmleyi ); the plumage of

this bird blends exactly with this background, sandy fawn,

brown, dark grey and black, with a little white on its head

behind the eyes, warm red-brown and dull orange-brown, every

colour in fact of a desert picture. We found this bird in several

places, but the greatest number at Waddy Kammamat at El-Sid

and Svala. In all three places they were running about, hiding

from intrusive visitors behind rocks or big stones or under the

thorny scrub. We got almost within arm-length of some by

slowly stalking them with the greatest precaution; keeping

hidden and silent, we watched them for some time unseen. They

seldom fly, unless greatly alarmed, but run from rock to rock,

keeping cover as much as possible, like the most perfectly

trained “scout.”


When they do take wing, it is only for a short flight, to

some other and safer hiding place. It seems almost a mystery

how these birds feed in this inhospitable place, but there must be

a good supply of grubs and seeds, which are invisible to the

humani eye, for the Partridges we saw were very plump. Water,

too, must be within range ; not the deep wells on the desert

route, but quiet little water holes hidden away in the heart of the

grim mountains, and known only to the beasts and birds of the

desert. That there are such delicious places, cool pools fringed

with ferns is well known, though only seen now and then by

some enterprising explorer and the thirsty desert beasts who hold

the secret fast. The Singed Sand Grouse (Peterocles exzistiLz) also

ranges from the river, and flocks of these birds may be seen in

many parts of the desert. They fly for miles over the “ weary

waste” to seek water, and may now and then be discovered on

the river banks in numl>ers. They travel very swiftly from far



