260 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



the inner webs ; base and tips of the secondaries white ; tail, 

 exterior web of the two outer feathers and end of all but the 

 centre ones white, barred with dusky ; underparts white, 

 shaded and streaked with brown on the crop and sides of the 

 throat ; beak dusky ; legs olive-brown ; irides dark brown. 



Entire length 7"5 inches ; culmen 1 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 4'2 ; tarsus 0*9. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 318. 



266. HiMANTOPUS CANDiDUs, Bouu. Black-wmfjed Stilt. 



Abundant both in Egypt and Nubia, but more especially 

 so in the Delta, where it may be almost daily seen in small 

 flocks, striding about the shallow pools which are so frequent 

 near the villages, perfectly undisturbed by the presence of 

 man ; for the natives never molest it. 



Top of the head, nape, a band across the upper part of 

 the back, and wings black, with green reflections ; remainder 

 of the plumage white, with a delicate pink blush on the 

 breast ; legs pink ; beak black ; irides orange-red. 



Entire length 14 inches; culmen 2*5; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 9'8 ; unfeathered portion of the leg 8. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 289. 



267. Recurvirostra avocetta, L. Avocct. 



The Avocet is a winter visitant to Egypt and Nubia, and 

 is moderately abundant. I have met with large flocks of 

 these birds on two occasions, — once in the Delta in February, 



