BIRDS OF EGYPT. 201 



189. BuTEO DESERTORUM, Daud. African Buzzard. 



In ' The Ibis ' for 1871 (p. 40) I observed that it is highly 

 probable that this bird is to be found in Egypt ; but I do not 

 know of any authentic instance of its capture there, though 

 I fancy that I saw it in Nubia. As it is met with in all the 

 surrounding countries, it cannot, in my opiiiion, fail to occur 

 in Egypt. 



z^u.tJL- 



190. BuTEO FEROX, Gm. Long-legged Buzzard. 



This is the most plentiful species of Buzzard throughout — 



Egypt and Nubia. In Lower Egypt it is less frequently 

 met with than higher up the Nile, and does not, I believe, 

 winter in the Delta. It appears to be less abundant in some 

 years than others ; for in 1870 I only met with one specimen, 

 at Kom Ombo, where it was breeding at the time. This 

 specimen, unlike any other that I have ever seen, had a 

 brown tail distinctly barred. In 1868 it was rarely absent 

 from any field where Quail were abundant; and in 1871 

 I found it very plentiful in the Fayoom. It is a bird of 

 lazy habits, rarely flying far, even after being shot at, but 

 soon alighting again upon some mound or heap of maize- 

 stalks, from which it keeps watch over the fields. I have 

 found it breeding in Egypt in April. 



Specimens differ very considerably in size and coloration. 



Upper surface — top of the head varying from white to 

 cinnamon, more or less mottled with brown down the centres 

 of the feathers, remainder of the upper plumage bufi" or 



