— 39 — 



181. Lesser Short-toed Lark. Calandrella minor minor (Cabanis). 



Calandrella minor. Shelley, p. 142. 



Of rare occurrence in spring. 



Smaller than the last-mentioned, but more sandy coloured 

 above, and throat and breast flecked with blackish browTi. No 

 black patches on sides of neck. 



182. Nicoll's Lesser Short-toed Lark. Calandrella minor nicolli 



Hartert. Plate 22. 



Common and resident in suitable p)arts of the northern Delta. 

 Similar to the aforementioned, but more dusky coloured 

 above. 



18'{. European Lesser Short-toed Lark. Calandrella minor 

 heinei (Homeyer). 



A rare visitor or straggler. 



Similar to above, but more greyish rufous on the upper 

 parts. 



184. Finch Lark. Pyrrhulauda melanauchen Cabanis. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



One male obtained in the Wadi Natrun, Lower Egypt, 

 on September 10, 1911, and three more seen during the winter 

 of 1912-1913. 



Length about 4 inches. Male, crown and nape and hind 

 neck black encircled by a narrow white collar on hind neck. 

 Ear coverts white. Under parts and under wing coverts black. 

 Mantle and back sandy brown ; tail and wing feathers deep 

 brown edged with sandy brown ; outer tail feathers sandy 

 white. Female has the black replaced by sandy brown. 



185. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris sophiae Bianchi. 



Sturnus vulgaris. Shelley, p. 157. 



A common winter visitor. 



Length about 8 inches. Black, spotted on upper parts 

 with buff and on under parts with white ; back, head, and 

 flanks washed with purple, ear coverts and chest with green. 



18G. Poltaratsky's Starling. Sturnus vulgaris pollaratskyi 

 Finsch. 

 Not mentioned by Shelley. 

 Common during the winter months ; a few remain until 

 the middle of March. 



