BIEDS OF EGYPT. 199 



begins breeding towards the end of February, and appears 

 invariably to select a sont tree for its nest, which is con- 

 structed of sticks and reeds, put together with some care, 

 and smoothly lined with the dried leaves of the sugar-cane. 

 The eggs somewhat resemble those of the Kestrel, but are 

 rarely quite as rounded in shape, and show more of the 

 white ground, whUe the brown markings look like dry paint 

 smeared carelessly over the surface. On the 12th of March, 

 at Golosaneh, I found a nest containing four young birds. 

 They were of a pale ashy colour, considerably darker on the 

 back and top of the head, where the feathers were mostly 

 tipped with brown, and the chest was of a pale brown. 



Adult. — The eyes are surrounded by black ; forehead and 

 feathers over the eyes white ; remainder of the upper plumage 

 grey, except the shoulders, which are black ; the outer 

 feathers of the tail almost white ; the whole of the uuderparts 

 white ; cere and legs yellow ; beak black ; irides carmine. 



Entire length 13 inches ; culmen 1 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 12 ; tarsus 1'3. 



Immature plumage. — Head and back tinted with yellowish 

 brown, and the feathers of the wing and tail tipped with 

 white ; chest delicately shaded with yellowish brown, with a 

 few brown streaks on the centres of the feathers ; irides pale 

 brown, while in the nestlings they are dark brown. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 31. 



187. Pernis apivorus (Linn.). Honey Buzzard. 



Both Hedenborg and Riippell mention this bird as being 

 found in Egypt. I am, however, inclined to look upon it as 

 a mere straggler in that country. 



