SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 109 
picture of the prominent species to be met with in June at 
such a lake as the Faioum (Birket-El-Korn). First the 
little long-tailed African Cormorant goes by with straight 
undeviating flight, like one who knows what place he wants 
to go to and is going there, leaving behind him the wanton 
Terns, who have no object in life but lightly to sport over 
the water as they watch for their finny prey, assured that 
the warm sun will take care to incubate their eggs. In 
noisy conclave the Buff-backed Herons trim their nests, and 
the shyer Squacco is uneasy at any disturbance the mean- 
ing of which he does .not understand, while the cautious 
Egret takes his stick away again, wisely jealous of revealing 
the whereabouts of his yet unfinished edifice. The Dalma- 
tian Pelican swims away with all sail set, or flaps and glides, 
and flaps and glides over the water, his huge form mirrored 
on the surface, startling the basking fish, which hurry from 
the presence of their enemy. Marbled Ducks in pairs rise 
from among the sedges: agile Grebes put their trust in 
diving: the tall reeds quiver as the Green-backed Porphyrio 
seeks their friendly shelter: the Reed Warbler sounds a 
loud alarum. All fly to the nearest cover, and in those thick 
beds they find a secure haven. 
