FROM THE EAST. 511 
daily appear at midday over Cairo. The latter part of this 
statement I can endorse. 
They are also frequently to be seen on the sandbanks of the 
Nile, especially in the neighbourhood of high mountains. At 
certain places, such as Medinet Abu, opposite Luxor, one 
meets with great numbers of them. In Palestine I saw soli- 
tary specimens between Jaffa and Jerusalem, but round the 
latter town hundreds daily collected to look for carrion. They 
always flew from the same direction in a sort of travelling 
procession, and I ‘observed this flight to Jerusalem from 
Bethlehem, Mar-Saba, and the Dead Sea ; for all these birds 
came from the high barren mountains on the left side of the 
Dead Sea. 
22. ATHENE NocruA. Little Owl. 
Very common among gardens and groves in and about the 
towns of Upper Egypt. 
23. Mowticota cyaNa. Blue Rock-Thrush. 
Very common throughout Egypt among mountains, ruins, 
and even near towns. In Africa this species is distinguished 
by its great tameness, whereas in Southern Europe it is con- 
sidered one of the most shy of birds. 
24, Saxicota LEucURA. Black Chat. 
This beautiful bird was only observed near Assouan, in the 
cemetery among the desert mountains. Two specimens were 
killed—the first in the ordinary plumage, the second with a 
white forehead. 
25, SAXICOLA @NANTHE. Wheatear. 
Seen throughout Egypt, but nowhere common. It seeks 
the same food and frequents the same localities as in Europe. 
