HANDLIST OF THE BIRDS OF EGYPT. 



PASSERES. 



1. Song Thrush. Turdus musious musicus Linnaeus, 1766. 



Turdus musicus. Shelley, p. 66. 



The European continental form of this thrush is to be 

 met with from autumn to spring in suitable localities. In some 

 winters it is very abundant. 



It differs from the EngHsh thrush in being slightly greyer 

 above. Length about 9 inches. Upper parts greyish olive 

 brown. Underparts white, washed on the breast with yellowish 

 buff, and profusely speckled with brownish black spots. 



2. Redwing. Turdus iliacus Linnaeus, 1766. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



A somewhat scarce visitor in mid-winter and early spring. 



Length about 8i inches. Like a song thrush, but has 

 a yellowish stripe over eye and chestnut flanks and under 

 wing coverts. Spots on underparts brown. 



3. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris Linnaeus. 



Turdus inlaris. Shelley, p. 65. 



Usually a somewhat uncommon winter visitor. During the 

 winter of 1917-1918 a large number of fieldfares frequented the 

 Nuzha Gardens at Alexandria. 



Length about 10 inches. Head and rump grey; rest of 

 back chestnut brown ; wings and tail blackish ; throat and 

 breast yellowish buff, spangled with black ; belly dull whitish. 



4. Syrian Blackbird. Turdus merula syriaca Hemprich and 



Ehrenberg. 

 Turdus merula. Shelley, p. Q><d. 

 Common in suitable localities from autumn to spring. 

 The male hardly differs 'from the English blackbird, but 

 females are greyer. Length about 10 inches. Adult male 

 glossy black. Bill orauge, legs and feet brown. The female 

 is greyish black with faint streaks of lighter grey on the throat 

 and upper breast. Young birds are somewhat similar to the 

 female but browner. 



