SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. I5r 
“40. GREATER SPOTTED CUCKOO, Coccystes glandarius 
(Linn.) 
This fine bird is common in Middle Egypt, and we had 
no difficulty in shooting as many specimens as we wanted. 
Old birds and young of the previous Spring were in about 
equal quantities. It was generally to be found singly on 
the Sont trees (Acacia nilotica), but I have also seen it 
perch on the Palm and the Cypress. Other writers say it 
is generally to be found in pairs. In these minor points 
observations of different naturalists must often differ. I 
have seen as many as five in the course of a short walk, yet 
they were barely near enough together to be called a flock. 
I have frequently heard it give a loud harsh chattering cry, 
and I suppose it utters “cuckoo,” as a native boy applied 
that name to one I shot (cf. Ibis, 1862, p. 357). 
Underneath the feathers there are a number of large 
hairs. The testes are small as in the Common Cuckoo. 
Small birds will sometimes mob it, but I never saw it 
meddled with by Hooded Crows, though I have seen it 
most suspiciously near their nests. 
41. COMMON CUCKOO, Cuculus canorus, Linn. 
“April 7th, I shot one at Gebel Silsilis. May the 1oth 
several were seen in a garden belonging to the Viceroy at 
Minieh, and a female, still in the brown plumage, but with 
blue rump, was shot. It struck me that they were quite 
mute: they were evidently migrating. 
42. ISABELLINE GOATSUCKER, Cafrimulgus egyptius, 
Licht.; “ Bakkak.” 
With the other spring migrants came Goatsuckers. I 
always saw them flitting over the water or very near to it, 
