198 



BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



they belong to M. migrans or to M. (Pffi/jjtius. So great is' 

 the preponderance of the yellow-billed race, that I am not 

 aware of having killed a single adult specimen in Egypt with 

 a bill entirely black ; and Von Heuglin and Mr. E. C. Taylor 

 make similar observations. 



This species is very similar to M. (egyptius, but has always 

 an entirely black bill. The general shade of the plumage is 

 blacker, the dark streaks down the centres of the feathers on 

 the throat and crop are broader, and the irides, I believe, are 

 invarial)ly darker than in the adult M. aggptius. 



Entire length 23-3 inches ; culmen 1-7; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 18-5 ; tarsus 2-3. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 29. 



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186. Elanus CiERULEUS (Dcsfont.). Black-shouldered Hawk. 



This pretty little Hawk is a resident in Egypt, and is very 

 abundant as far south as Thebes, above which place and in 

 Nubia its numbers are much more limited. It generally 

 frequents the sont trees ; but I have rarely observed more 

 than a pair in the same clump. The food consists of insects 

 and mice, which I have seen it pursuing after sunset, when 

 I have been waiting for duck. Being by no means shy, its 

 habits may be easily observed ; and I have seen a bird occa- 

 sionally remaining perched upon the top bough of a sont tree 

 for hours together, uttering at intervals a low cry to its mate, 

 who is rarely far off. By this rather peculiar cry, which it 

 frequently repeats while sitting on its eggs, I was attracted 

 to its nest on one occasion. The eggs, though rare in col- 

 lections, are by no means difficult to find in Egypt. It 



