SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 149 
36. LITTLE GREEN BEEEATER, Merops viridis, Linn. 
(Hasselquist, 20, Corvus egyptius) ;* “ Huader.” 
Two days after leaving Cairo we fell in with this exquisite 
bird, the most tropical form we had seen; and it continued 
very common as faras Assouan. The central tail feathers 
in the best one I brought home extend three inches beyond 
the others. 
37. BLACK AND WHITE KINGFISHER, Ceryle rudis (Linn.). 
(Hasselquist, 22) ; “ Tayr betaa es samak.” 
I should say this well-marked resident was infinitely 
commoner below Cairo than above it, though others may 
not have found it so, but it was commonest of all at the 
Faioum. There were several pairs always to be seen within 
a few hundred yards of our camp, and I spent hours watch- 
ing them. It is not necessary to re-describe the process of 
fishing, but I may mention that they were much more 
successful there than I ever ‘saw them on the Nile. At 
Benhouk a Hooded Crow was seen to knock one into the 
river more than once. Nobody would think their feet 
adapted for a wire, but they sometimes use those of the 
telegraph asa perch. I have also seen one perch upona 
tree. On the 13th of April, Mr. Russell observed one chase 
a bat, probably in play. 
38. KINGFISHER, Aledo ispida, Linn. 
The English Kingfisher was often to be seen in the Delta 
in January and February, but I doubt if it remains there 
during the summer. Sometimes one would be perched on 
* Hemprich and Ehrenberg refer Corvus egyptius to the Common 
Kingfisher, 
