FROM THE EAST. 509 



in all towns, especially in Cairo, on the roofs, minarets, 

 gardens, and walls, is in Egypt really a domestic creature. 

 One hears its tittering cry everywhere, and it is so worrying 

 that it can only be compared to the buzzing of a fly. This 

 bird is always the first to come to carrion, and does not allow 

 itself to be driven away even by the large Vultures. When 

 I left Africa, towards the end of March, the Parasitic Kites 

 were already sitting on their nests among the towns and 

 gardens. 



y, 



15. CIRCUS PALLIDUS. Pallid Harrier. 



This beautiful bird is rare throughout Upper Egypt, where 

 only solitary specimens are seen; but it is somewhat commoner 

 in Lower Egypt, near Cairo, and the Suez Canal towards the 

 end of March. We there found it on the bush-covered 

 pastures, and it was also occasionally observed in Palestine. 



16. CIRCUS ^RUGINOSUS. Marsh-Harrier. 



In incredible numbers throughout Egypt and Palestine, in 

 all corn-fields, pastures, rush and reed beds, and the bushes by 

 the shores of lakes. 



17. CIRCAETUS GALLICUS. Short-toed Eagle. 



Never observed in Africa, and confined in Palestine to the 

 Jordan valley, but there seen in astonishing numbers on the 

 low bushes and trees. 



18. BUTEO FEROX. Long-legged Buzzard. 



Throughout Egypt this large Buzzard is everywhere to be 

 found, but always solitary. One sees it sitting among the 

 fields, on walls, and on heaps of mud and dung. On the cliffs 

 of the mountains bordering the Nile I found two paired 

 couples. In Palestine I only saw two, one in the valley of 



