FROM THE EAST. 505 
in Upper Egypt, in suitable situations, in the choice of which, 
however, it appears to be very particular. Gardens with solitary 
palms, thick bushes with places for perching on, after the 
fashion of the Bee-eaters, and especially telegraph-wires are 
among its requirements. ‘So little does this tame bird shun 
mankind and his dwellings, that even repeated shots do not 
frighten it away from its favourite resorts. I saw one paired 
couple at Kom-el-Emir, on a hedge near the bank of the Nile : 
otherwise they were always in flocks of as many as thirty 
individuals. They fluttered round the trees like butterflies, 
and flitted from one suitable spot to another. 
4, CYPSELUS PALLIDUS. Egyptian Swift. 
This bird is very critical in the selection of its haunts and 
is less frequently found than one anticipates ; but where it does 
settle it congregates in great numbers. Its dwelling-places 
are in the steep mountains bordering the valley of the Nile, 
principally in the northern parts of the country. I found it, 
for instance, in great swarms on the rocks of the quarry in 
the Mokattam hills near Cairo. 
5. CypseLus parvus. Little Grey Swift. 
This is the characteristic Swift of Upper Egypt, and may 
be found in all suitable situations. It is very common, for 
example, at the ruins of Karnak. In the mornings I saw 
great numbers of them hunting gnats over the waving corn- 
fields in true Swift fashion. 
6. Fatco BarBarus. Barbary Falcon. 
I observed a pair of these beautiful falcons on the island of 
Bezire-Karfin at Lake Birket-el-Kariin, where they circled 
all day long round the rocks of the highest point of the 
island ; otherwise they were very rare, and never seen except 
