406 Mr. M. J. l<^ico\\—Contn but ions 



was just commencing, and subsequent researches have 

 proved that the Wadi Natron is a veritable " Heligoland " 

 as far as migration is concerned. During ray first visit I 

 fortunately obtained the valuable co-operation of Signor A. T. 

 Balboni, the Secretary of the Wadi Natron Branch of tlie 

 Salt and Soda Company — a keen zoologist and collector ; 

 and owing to his kind help, which I most gratefully 

 acknowledge, I am now able to add about 120 species and 

 subspecies of birds to Mr. Loat's list ! In November 1911 

 I again visited the Wadi Natron, and spent six days there, 

 during winch time I walked from end to end of the Wadi 

 and added several species to my former collection. 



Apart from the Salt Lakes, which in themselves are only 

 attractive to wading birds — Ducks and Flamingos — there are 

 a number of fresh-water pools and springs, vast tracts of 

 bulrushes, ('M)ourdy "), and a small experimental farm on 

 which clover and various corn-crops are grown. A little 

 plantation of eucalyptus trees make a further attraction for 

 passing birds. Taken on the whole, however, the Wadi 

 Natron does not look an attractive spot for migrants, and 

 tjie following list of the birds which have been known 

 to occur there is surprising, but there is no doubt that 

 there is a great migration-route there from south to north 

 in spring and vice versa in autumn. 



My best thanks are due to Mr. Balboni for his most 

 valuable help in obtaining and sending to me birds during 

 the past two years. On many occasions consignments were 

 sent to me by hand over the desert as far as Rhatalbe, 

 on days when there was no train running on the light 

 railway from the Wadi ; and as Mr. Balboni is a good 

 ornithologist and most careful collector all the birds sent l)y 

 him were of the greatest interest to me, and without his 

 help the present paper could never have been written. 



To Mr. D. Patterson, the manager of the Wadi Natron 

 factory, my best thanks are due for his many kindnesses to 

 me during my two visits, and for allowing me not only to 

 use the rest-house at Bir Hodmer, but for placing guides, 

 trolleys, and horses at vay disposal at all times. 



