70 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 



Tombs of the Kings. Its song, as far as I have 

 heard it, is distinctly pleasant ; Captain Shelley calls 

 it " but an indifferent song," which is severe, as it 

 is a happy little rippling series of true lark-like 

 notes. It has a good mixed diet, animal and 

 vegetable, hard grain and soft blade of growing 

 things. When the weather begins to get warm you 

 will often see this lark, as you may many other 

 birds, sitting with its mouth open as if gasping for 

 breath ; that this is a sign they do feel the heat is 

 certain, but I do not think that it shows they are 

 suffering from thirst, for in the cultivation they 

 always have water all round them in the little 

 canals that run everywhere through the crops, and 

 if they were thirsty they could very soon quench 

 it. When on Lake Menzaleh, just on the very 

 limit of Egyptian soil and Mediterranean Sea, I 

 came across many taking a last rest on the sand- 

 banks before migrating, and was very struck with 

 their altered bearing. They were shy and timid, 

 never allowed a close inspection, and flew away in 

 hurried fashion. This was in the early weeks of 

 April. 



