BIEDS OF EGYPT. 161 



the Magpie among the true Egyptian birds, and therefore do 

 not describe it. 



136. Pyrrhocouax alpinus, Vieill. Alpine Chough. 



I consider the occurrence of this species in Egypt very 

 doubtful ; for it is included solely upon the authority of Hassel- 

 quist. 



Entire plumage uniform black ; beak yellow ; legs ver- 

 milion, with the soles of the feet and claws black ; irides 

 dark brown. 



Entire length 15*5 inches ; cuhnen 1 ; wing, carpus to tip, 

 10-2 ; tarsus 1-7. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 218. 



Order PICARI^. 

 Pam. YTJNGID^. 



137. YuNX TORQUILLA, Linn. Wryneck. 



The Wryneck is not uncommon as a spring and autumn 

 visitant, but is much less plentiful in Upper Egypt and Nubia 

 than lower dowa tlie Nile, where it is usually to be met with 

 singly, perched upon some low hedge. 



Upper plumage grey mingled with rufous, and the whole 

 delicately pencilled with dusky ; a patch of mottled black and 

 rufous runs from the back of the head to the centre of the 

 back ; on the scapulars there is a band of black and buff 

 spots ; wings brown, the quills barred with rutous ; tail 

 ashy brown, beautifully pencilled and irregularly barred with 

 black ; chin white, throat buff, the whole evenly barred with 



M 



