to the Ornithology of Egypt. 443 



Natron, and thanks to Mr. Balboni's kind help I have a good 

 series of birds from quite young fledglings to adults, as well 

 as many eggs. 



Several adults (in autumn) in my colleetion have moulted 

 all their primaries at once, and are in a flightless condition. 

 Shelley says that this species is only a Avinter visitant to 

 Egypt, but there is no doubt that it is a common resident in 

 suitable localities. My friend Major R. Sparrow has eggs 

 from Mehas, so that it certainly breeds in the Delta as well 

 as in the Wadi Natron. During my visit in November 1911 

 I was greatly interested to find how noisy these birds were 

 (I was previously under the impression that the curious 

 squealing grunting call of the Water-Rail was only uttered in 

 the breeding season), but every morning I heard numbers 

 calling at daybreak. The natives of the AVadi call the 

 Water-Rail " Kelb el tur," which means " the dog bird.^^ 

 Evidently this name is given owing to its loud voice. 



PoRZANA MARUETTA Lcacll. 



Porzana maruetta Shelley, p. 274. 



I have a Spotted (Jrake shot by Mr. Balboni on the 

 29th of October, 1910, in the Wadi Natron. 



Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). 



Gallinula chloropus Shelley, p. 275. 



The Moorhen is an abundant resident in the Wadi Natron, 

 and I have a good series of birds of all ages collected by 

 Mr. Balboni. 



Some Egyptian examples of this species are much smaller 

 than British specimens, but they vary much in size, and at 

 present I cannot separate the Egyptian breeding bird, 

 although their eggs seem very small. One of my specimens 

 has a small amount of buf£ on the under tail-coverts. 



[EUPODOTIS ARABS? 



I have frequently heard of Large Bustards being seen on 

 the Wadi, but up to the present have not obtained an 

 example. I presume them to be of this species.] 



