BIRDS OF EGYPT. 229 



224. Glareola Nordmanni, Fischer. Black-winged Pra- 

 tincole. 



Von Heuglin observes (Syst. Ueb. p. 55) that this species 

 is to be met with throughout Egypt and Nubia in small 

 family parties in the fields, and that in October 1851 he 

 found it abundant in the Eayoom and Middle Egypt. 



Very similar to G. pratincola, but easily distinguished by 

 the entire underpart of the wing and axillaries being black, 

 and by its having no red on the beak. 



Entire length 9 inches; culmen 0*6; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 7 "4; tarsus 1'9. 



Fig. Giu-ney, Ibis, 1868, pi. viii. 



225. CuRSORius GALLicus, Gm. Cream-coloured Courser. 



This species, although a resident, is not very abundant in ^C 

 either Egypt or Nubia. It is a desert bird, preferring the 

 sandy wastes to the more cultivated parts, and is generally 

 to be met with in small flocks, probably consisting of the last 

 year's brood. I myself only found it on one occasion, on 

 the 4th of February, opposite Aboo-fayda, where I had a most 

 exciting chase, as I had recognized the birds, and was anxious 

 to procure a specimen. They were four in number, and very 

 shy ; they, however, preferred running to flying, never re- 

 maining long on the wing. Finding that I could not stalk 

 them in the ordinary way, I drove them towards a bush, and 

 then making a long round got up to that piece of covert, and 

 shot one and broke the leg of a second. This wounded bii-d 

 detained the other two, and enabled me to procui'e one of 

 them. The wounded one was now alone, and so shy that I 



