Bird Notes from the Nile. 57 



into the cabin at the same hour for more 

 than a week, although they were sailing 

 down the river. The handsomest of all 

 this family is the Black-headed Yellow 

 Wagtail, which is a native of Upper 

 Egypt and Nubia, and is seldom seen 

 further north than the Fayum. It is 

 easily distinguished from all the other 

 yellow wagtails by its perfectly black head. 



Among familiar birds in spring the 

 Cuckoo may be seen, but he is only a 

 bird of passage, and his voice is rarely, if 

 ever, heard in Egypt. The great Spotted 

 Cuckoo, however, lives in the country, 

 and may often be observed in the bushes 

 and trees. It is supposed to have a 

 cuckoo-like call, but we, anyhow, did not 

 recognise it among the innumerable bird 

 notes we heard. 



One might go on mentioning bird after 

 bird which we have caught sight of on 

 the river and its banks. Several different 

 Gulls and other sea-birds are found quite 

 far into the heart of Africa, generally in 

 the summer. Tern of various kinds 

 abound, both on the lakes and the river : 

 the " Caspian " and the Gull-billed Tern, 



