120 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



78. MusciCAPA coLLARis, Bechst. Wldte-collared Flycatcher. 



This species is a spring and autumn visitant, of apparently 

 rather uncertain occiu-rence ; for while in 1868 I frequently 

 met with it in pairs in April between Cairo and Benisouef, in 

 1870, although I was in the country until the 10th of May, 

 we never once saw it ; nor did I meet with it in the Fayoom 

 or Delta in 1871 up to the end of March. Its white and 

 black plumage renders it very conspicuous, as it chiefly 

 frequents the outermost boughs of the sont trees and the leaves 

 of the date-palms, where it is ever actively engaged in the 

 pursuit of its insect food. 



Spring plumage. — ^Forehead and neck white ; top of the 

 head, lores, cheeks, and ear-coverts black ; upper part of the 

 back, scapulars, tail-coverts, and tail black ; rump white, 

 shaded with dusky ; base of the quills, outer web of the three 

 inner ones, and greater portion of some of the larger coverts 

 white, remainder of the wing black ; the entire under surface 

 of the body white ; beak and legs black ; irides dark brown. 



Entire length 5-4 inches; culmen 0-4; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 3 '4 ; tarsus 0*7. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 62. 



Fam. HIRUNDINIDiE. 



79. HiRUNDO RUSTiCA, Linn. Chimnei/-Swalloio. 



This bird is properly only a spring and autumn visitant in 

 Egypt, arriving there on its way north about the middle of 

 April ; but a few possibly remain in the country throughout 

 the year, for we once obtained an immatm-e specimen in the 

 Delta on the 25th of February. In Nubia it appears to be 



