196 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



fore of opinion that Riippell is in error, having no doubt 

 mistaken specimens of 31. agyptius, which is the only Kite 

 that is abundant in the country. 



Head and neck pale grey, with brown streaks down the 

 centres of the feathers ; the whole of the upper surface fer- 

 ruginous-brown, with dark brown centres to the feathers ; 

 primaries dusky ; tail rich ferruginous-brown ; under surface 

 of the body pale brown or orange, shading into rufous on the 

 flanks and thighs, with the centres of the feathers dark 

 brown ; cere and legs yellow ; beak horn-blue ; irides pale 

 yellow. 



Entire length 26 inches; culmen I'o; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 205; tarsus 2 '4. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 28. 



184. MiLVTJS iEGYPTius, Gm. Parasitic Kite. 



Arabic name " Hedaich." 



Very abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia. They frequent 

 every village, and indeed any place where there is a chance of 

 their obtaining offal ; and at Cairo and Alexandria great 

 numbers may be seen flying over the town or perched upon 

 the housetops. They are very inquisitive, and become bold 

 when in search of food, often following the sportsman for a 

 considerable distance ; but I have never observed them 

 capture even a wounded bird, although they will occasionally 

 swoop at them. They begin breeding in March, usually 

 selecting a sont tree near some village for their nest, which 

 appears invariably to contain some pieces of old rag. 



Adult. — Head and neck whitish grey, inclining more or 



