250 BIED8 OF EGYPT. 



Crown of the head black, the feathers edged with rufous ; 

 a buff band extending from the beak over the eye and down 

 the nape ; a brown patch in front of the eye ; cheeks white, 

 with the tips of the feathers brown ; back and inner web of 

 the scapulars black and rufous, with purple and green 

 reflections ; outer webs of the scapulars cream-colour, forming 

 two bands down the back ; wings dusky, the coverts edged 

 with pale brown and tipped with white ; tail dusky, the 

 feathers edged with very pale rufous ; underparts white, 

 strongly mottled with brown on the throat, crop, and flanks ; 

 beak pale fleshy brown, shading into dark brown towards the 

 tip ; legs pale brown ; iridcs dark brown. 



Entire length 8 inches; culmen TO; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 4 ; tarsus 9. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 322. 



253. Rhynch^a capensis, Linn. Painted Snipe. 



(Plate XI.) 



The present species ranges throughout Egypt and Nubia, 

 and is not uncommon at times in the Delta and the Fayoom, 

 where it may occasionally be met with in flocks, though 

 more often singly. It remains in the country throughout the 

 year, and breeds in May. It somewhat resembles the Jack 

 Snipe in habits, being difiicult to flush, and in only flying 

 for a short distance ; but it is slower on the wing than 

 that species. 



Secondaries long in proportion to the primaries, giving 

 the wings a very rounded appearance. 



