SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 153 
noiselessly, low over the pools in search of insects. Yet it 
is not common in Upper Egypt ; and when we were return- 
ing north from Assouan, we did not see many compared 
with the Chimney Swallow, which was then becoming very 
plentiful. In the beginning of May I noticed a great many 
very light-breasted ones on the telegraph wires at Minieh. 
They were no doubt all young Oriental Swallows, but the 
tone of colour was not darker than is sometimes seen in 
the Chimney Swallow. 
46. CHIMNEY SWALLOW, Hirundo rustica, Linn. 
The first one shot was on the 4th of March, but these 
harbingers of spring did not become plentiful until some 
time after. I think the first large flight I saw was on the 
20th of April. As there were still a good many when I 
left in June, I surmise that this species breeds in the country. 
The specimen shot on the 14th of March was a short-tailed 
bird with a brown head, like the one Captain Shelley shot 
on the 25th of February, which I have seen. But it is 
evidently a mistake to call either of them young birds, as 
the Swallows, when they leave England for the sunny south, 
have already blue heads. Messrs, Sharpe and Dresser have 
shown that the head becomes brown again while they are 
wintering in Africa. (P. Z.S., 1870, p. 244.) My specimen 
agrees with No. 4 of their series. 
47. House Martin, Chelidon urbica (Linn.) 
On the 3rd of April a few were seen at Silsilis, and one 
shot. I also saw it at least once in May, and once at the 
Faioum in June. 
