— 32 — 



grey. Mantle and scapulars dark brown. Wings black, with a 

 white patch. All the quills showing metaUic reflections and 

 the inner ones somewhat sickle-shaped. Under parts white and 

 bufi. 



149. Egyptian House Sparrow. Passer domesticus niloticus 



NicoU and Bonhote. 

 Passer domesticus. Shelley, p. 148. 



Passer domesticus niloticus. NicoU and Bonhote "Bull. B.O.C.," 

 vol. xxiii, p. 101. 



An abundant resident, from the coast of the Mediterranean 

 to as far south as Dongola in Upper Nubia, where it meets and 

 interbreeds with the red-backed sparrow, P. d. arboreus. 



Differs from the English house sparrow in being greyer 

 and paler. 



The tree sparrow, Passer montanus, has been included by 

 some authors in the Eg^^tian Hst, but I much doubt if it has 

 ever occurred in the country. At any rate, it is inadvisable to 

 include it here until we have definite proof of its occurrence. 



150. Spanish Sparrow. Passer Jiispaniolensis (Temminck). 



Passer salicicola. Shelley, p. 149. 



Vast numbers winter in Egypt, where they arrive in Sep- 

 tember. During this time they attack the crops. Possibly a 

 few remain to breed, but as yet there is no proof of the fact. 



Differs from the house sparrow in having the top of the 

 head chestnut and the sides of body spotted with black. Females 

 resemble those of the house sparrow, but have the breast and 

 flanks slightly streaked with blackish brown. 



There seems to be no positive record of the Italian sparrow 

 (P. italicB) from Egypt. It may be distinguished from the 

 house sparrow by its red crown and from the Spanish sparrow 

 by having no black streaks on the flanks and sides of breast. 



151. Chaffinch. Fringilla coslehs ccelehs Linnaeus. 



Fringilla ccelebs. Shelley, p. 151. 



A common winter visitor to Lower Egypt. Arrives in 

 November and departs in March and April. 



Length 6 inches. Male, crown and nape grey ; back chest- 

 nut ; rump yellowish green ; upper wing coverts white ; greater 

 coverts black, tipped with yellowish white ; quills bro"\vnish 

 black ; central tail feathers dark grey, the rest black, with 



