FROM THE EAST. 509 
in all towns, especially in Cairo, on the roofs, minarets, 
gardens, and walls, isin Egypt really a domestic creature. 
One hears its tittering cry everywhere, and it is so worrying 
that it can only be compared to the buzzing of a fly. This 
bird is always the first to come to carrion, and does not allow 
itself to be driven away even by the large Vultures. When 
I left Africa, towards the end of March, the Parasitic Kites 
were already sitting on their nests among the towns and 
gardens. 
15. Crrcus PALLIDUS. Pallid Harrier. 
This beautiful bird is rare throughout Upper Egypt, where 
only solitary specimens are seen; but it is somewhat commoner 
in Lower Egypt, near Cairo, and the Suez Canal towards the 
end of March. We there found it on the bush-covered 
pastures, and it was also occasionally observed in Palestine. 
16. Circus aRuceinosus. Marsh-Harrier. 
In incredible numbers throughout Egypt and Palestine, in 
all corn-fields, pastures, rush and reed beds, and the bushes by 
the shores of lakes. 
17. Cimcaitrus eatuicus. Short-toed Eagle. 
Never observed in Africa, and confined in Palestine to the 
Jordan valley, but there seen in astonishing numbers on the 
low bushes and trees. 
18. Butzo rerox. Long-legged Buzzard. 
Throughout Bgypt this large Buzzard is everywhere to be 
found, but always solitary. One sees it sitting among the 
fields, on walls, and on heaps of mud and dung. On the cliffs 
of the mountains bordering the Nile I found two paired 
couples. In Palestine I only saw two, one in the valley of 
