3388 The Zoologist— February, 1873. 



together with some care, and smoothly lined with the dried leaves of the 

 sugar-canes. The eggs somewhat resemble those of the kestrel, but are 

 rarely quite as rounded in shape, and show more of the white ground, 

 while the brown markings look like dry paint smeared carelessly over the 

 surface."— P. 199. 



The spotted eagle {Aquila ncBvia), of which no less than six 

 specimens have been obtained in the British Islands, is the most 

 abundant species of eagle in Egypt, but is less plentiful in Nubia. 

 During Mr. Shelley's visit to the Fayoom, in February and March, 

 it was extremely plentiful, and was generally to be seen sitting still 

 near the water's edge. Like our British eagles, it was frequently 

 observed devouring pieces of decomposing fish, which appeared to 

 constitute its chief food in the Fayoom. As might be expected, 

 vultures are plentiful enough in Egypt, Gypaetus nudipes, Vultur 

 monachus, V. auricularis, Gyps fulvus and Neophron percnoplerus, 

 the two last particularly. At Edfou Mr. Shelley met with several 

 hundreds of Gyps fulvus around the body of a dead camel, which 

 they were so reluctant to leave that his dragoman struck at ihera 

 repeatedly with his stick before they would take wing. Neophron 

 percnopterus was extremely abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia, 

 where they might daily be seen feeding in pairs or flocks upon the 

 offal around the villages, or slaking their thirst on the opposite 

 sand-banks. 



It is seldom we have an opportunity of learning anything of the 

 pratincole from an eye-wituess: it seems that this curious bird is 

 another follower of the swarms of locusts, and dependent on them 

 for its chief sustenance. I may mention that Mr. Shelley places 

 it in the family Charadriidae, thus indicating his views of its 

 aflSnities. 



" This pratincole arrives in Egypt in great numbere about the middle 

 of April. I first met with itNuear Assouan on the 15th of that month, and 

 afterwards saw it in great abundance as I descended the Nile, sometimes on 

 the bare fields, but more frequently by the sides of small pools or on the 

 numerous sand-banks of the river. The flight is very peculiar and varied, 

 the birds at times passing rapidly through the air in flocks, Mke plovers, or 

 else floating at a considerable height with outspread wings, or again playing 

 over the water after the manner of terns. When I first saw a single specimen 

 of this bird rise from a small pool, I should have taken it for a green sand- 

 piper, which it closely resembled i« the colour of its back and flight, had it 

 not been for the greater length of the pinions. Probably the larger portion 



