296 BIEDS OF EGYPT. 



Fayoom, where it was not uncoinmon on the desert side of 

 the great lake of Birket el Korn, and I shot two specimens. 

 It is a far more active bird than the Common Cormorant, and 

 much more shy, but very similar in its habits ; for as I paddled 

 among the reeds I frequently saw it sitting upright on the 

 half-sunken bushes, or diving actively in pursuit of fish. 

 It appears to be a sociable species ; for I generally noticed it 

 in pairs or small flocks, possibly family parties ; but it never 

 flew in company with other birds. 



The following description is taken from my Egyptian 

 specimens shot in February : — 



Upper plumage black, glossed with green, with the fol- 

 lowing exceptions — sides of the neck shading off to brown ; 

 wing-coverts almost grey, with the ends of the feathers black, 

 narrowly edged with white; underparts white, shaded with 

 brown on the neck and crop ; flanks and under tail-coverts 

 black ; legs black ; culmen brown ; remainder of the beak and 

 bare part of the crop yellow ; irides brown (noted at the time). 



Entire length 22 "5 inches ; culmen 1*4 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 8'5 ; tarsus 1*2. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 409. 



321. Sterna caspia, Pall. Caspian Tern. 



The Caspian Tern is tolerably abundant in Lower Egypt, 

 but does not, to my knowledge, extend its range up the 

 Nile. Mr. E. C. Taylor tells me that he has observed it on 

 several occasions at Port Said and at Damietta. 



Adult in breeding-2Jluma(je. — Top of the head, nape, and 

 around the eye black ; back and wings pearl-grey ; ends of 



