dered them perfectly fearless. The picturesque white 

 Egyptian Vulture, had unwisely been exterminated 

 in Cairo. I saw only one, and that far out in the des- 

 ert. 



Two small passerine birds were common in the 

 shrubbery of the city gardens, the Egyptian House 

 Sparrow, identical with the Indian bird, and differing 

 only sub-specifically from our imported pest, and the 

 dainty little Chiff-chaff which, as iti flitted among the 

 leaves, recalled a vireo or wood-warbler. The Chiff- 

 chaff was a migrant from the far north. 



Both wild Senegal Turtle Doves and Stone Plov- 

 ers were nesting in an Ostrich paddock of the Zoologi- 

 cal Gardens, although they could hardly be classed as 

 city birds. 



Passing out toward the desert, we were certain to 

 see Rufous-bellied Swallows about the mud huts of 

 the Arabs. The endless undulating dunes of sand har- 

 bored a most interesting lot of birds, and many of 

 these, as well as the mammals and insects, were akin 

 to the desert, in color of feather, fur or chitin. 



On the way to Sakkara, our dromedaries roused 

 flocks of the exquisite Cream-colored Coursers, and 

 Sand-grouse dashed from underfoot like flying bits 

 of the sand itself. These were residents, but the 

 graceful black and white Pied Wagtails which were 

 seen everywhere were migrants. Barely moving from 

 beneath the camel's feet, flitting about the lower tiers 

 of the pyramids, running over the ploughed ground or 

 even wading at the edge of the canal — they come first 

 to mind when one recalls the winter birds of Egypt. 



26 



