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268. Osprey. Pandion halicetus Jialicetus (Linnaeus). 



Pandion halioBtus. Shelley, p. 203. 



Not uncommon, and breeds on the coasts and islands of the 

 Red Sea. 



Length about 22 inches. Head and nape white streaked 

 with brown ; upper parts dark brown with a purplish gloss ; 

 under parts white, with a band of brown spots round the fore- 

 neck ; cere, legs, and toes greenish blue. 



Young birds have the feathers of the upper parts edged with 

 buff. 



STEGANOPODES. 



269. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus). 



Phalacrocorax carbo. Shelley, p. 295. 



Cormorants are to be met with in suitable localities from 

 autumn to spring. Possibly a few breed in the country, but 

 we have no positive record. 



Length about 36 inches. Entire plumage glossy blackish 

 green ; throat white. In the breeding season the sides of the head 

 and the thighs are decorated with short white plume-like feathers. 

 Young birds are brown above and more or less white below. 



Examples from this country vary somewhat considerably 

 in size, and two races may occur. 



270. Little Cormorant. Phalacrocorax fygmmus Temminck. 



Phalacrocorax pygmceus. Shelley, p. 295. 



Shelley found this cormorant in the Faiyum, where, on 

 Lake Karun, it was not uncommon. Gurney met with it in 

 the same place in June, so it probably does, or did, breed there. 



Length about 23 inches. Upper parts black with, a greenish 

 gloss ; sides of neck brownish and " wing coverts almost grey, 

 with the ends of the feathers black, narrowly edged with white ; 

 under parts white shaded with brown on the neck and crop ; 

 flanks and under-tail coverts black ; legs black " (Shelley). 



27 L Long-tailed Cormorant. Phalacrocorax africanus Gmelin. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



Oraculus africanus. Gurney, "Rambles of a Naturalist," page 240. 



Gurney found this cormorant abundant on the Faiyum 

 lake in 1875, where, in June, he found a few sitting on empty 

 nests, but he was unable to find out if they were breeding or 

 about to breed. 



