28 Bird Notes from the Nile. 



sparrow-hawk is the Sacred Hawk of 

 Ancient Egypt, and the great temple of 

 Edfu is dedicated to Horus, the Hawk- 

 headed God of the old Egyptians. The 

 Kestrel, however, is sometimes said to 

 be the Sacred Hawk, and so also is the 

 Lanner Falcon, which is common in 

 Egypt, and is found in most of the rocky 

 districts and on the banks of the river. 

 This latter may be the sacred bird, and 

 they are still used by the Arabs, among 

 other falcons, for hawking, and many a 

 quail, or even gazelle, has, no doubt, been 

 caught by the aid of a well-trained Lanner. 



"... From the sky his falcon sweeping, 



Perched upon his master's wrist, 



Fair she was and glossy-feathered, 



Sleek and fat, with shining crest, 



. . , Best of birds that ever flew. ' ' 



— " Falcon Feast " — Sir Edwin Arnold. 



Marsh Harriers are rare in Upper Egypt, 

 but are commoner in the Delta ; the Pale- 

 chested Harriers are found in many places 

 both in Upper Egypt and Nubia. 



The long-legged Buzzard is considered 

 a rare bird. We saw a specimen near 

 Korosko in November, and another near 

 Dabod in February. 



