EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



to see if there is any tiny scrap of flesh, or skin, or 

 sinew left hidden away under stone or sand. On 

 several occasions I have seen Kites bathing in the 

 water, so presumably, although they are called 

 unclean birds, they are in reality as cleanly as most. 

 As far as personal observation goes I should call 

 the Swifts and Swallows the dirtiest birds ; anyhow 

 they are more infested with odious parasites than 

 any other birds I have handled. Kites build un- 

 tidy, clumsy nests of sticks ; rubbish, rags, and 

 even bits of newspapers are to be sometimes found 

 hanging on the outside : they are generally placed 

 in the upper boughs of some high tree, and in 

 many of the gardens in the centre of squares in 

 Cairo you can watch them bringing food to their 

 squealing young. They breed very early, and 

 often they have a brood hatched by the end of 

 January. 



There is something very fascinating in watch- 

 ing their flight, it seems so easy and strong, and 

 from its complete fearlessness it approaches so 

 near the spectator that the movement of the tail 

 as it turns to right or left can be seen acting as a 

 well-directed rudder. As already stated, Pliny 

 says it was observing this that gave man his first 

 idea of how to steer his boats and ships. And 



