BIEDS OF EGYPT. 323 



both included upon Von Heuglin's authority. Coccothraustes 

 vulgaris is here mentioned for the first time as Egyptian, and 

 its claims rest upon good authority. I am very sceptical as 

 to the Lesser Redpole, JEgiothus rufesccns, ever having been 

 met with in Egypt. Estrelda melanorhpicha, included upon 

 the authority of Vou Heuglin, is the only instance we have 

 of a species of this genus being found in the country. 



Fam. Sttjrnid^. — Pastor roseus is of very rare occurrence, 

 for I only know of a single instance of its capture. 



Fam. CoRViD^. — I have included Corvus monedula and Pica 

 caudata upon very unreliable authority ; in fact, in my opinion, 

 they have probably never been met with there in a wild state. 

 As regards Pyrrhocorax alpinus, though there is no reason 

 why this bird should not be found in Egypt, the only autho- 

 rity we have for its occurrence is most unsatisfactory. 



Fam. CucuLiDiE.— Although Herr F. Heine distinctly tells 

 us (Jom-n. f. Orn. 1863, p. 350) that Chrysococcyx cupreus 

 is found in Egypt, I think we may feel quite certain that it never 

 by any chance ranges into that country. 



Fam. Alcedinid^. — Alcedo hengalensis is, in my opinion, 

 rather a subspecies (A A. ispida than specifically distinct. 



Fam. Meropid^. — Merops viridis -. this includes M. viri- 

 dissiimis of authors ; for I can find no difi'erence between the 

 Egyptian and Indian specimens, unless it be in the generally 

 slightly longer tail of the former bird. 



Fam. CYPSELiDiE. — Cypselus apus I have never met with in 

 Egypt, although it must undoubtedly come there. The bird 

 usually referred to this species from Egypt is C.pallidus, which 

 1 first described (Ibis, 1870, p. 445). C. parvus I hkewise see 

 no reason to doubt being found in Upper Egypt and Nubia, 

 though I have not seen a specimen of it from those parts. 



