SIX MONTHS’ BIRD COLLECTING IN EGYPT. 217 
chial tubes were over five inches in length, in spite of which 
the Stork is voiceless.* 
179. BLACK STORK, Cizconia nigra (Linn.). 
Rather common, but I believe we did not see any in the 
Delta. Mr. Buxton shot an immature bird at Erment, and 
an old one near Benisouef. The latter measured 383 inches 
from tip of tail to end of beak; expanse 534. A mass of 
half-digested fish was pressed out of its mouth. Captain 
Shelley says—‘“It is an unsociable bird, never congregating 
in flocks or associating with other species” (0. ¢, p. 265); 
but at Abou-Girg we saw twenty-four with Spoonbills, 
Herons, and Ducks ina flock. A single one is sometimes 
seen near a pool in the fields. I rather think it is not found 
in Egypt in the summer. We however saw one as late as 
May 17th, a very fine bird; it passed over me almost within 
gunshot. 
180. SPOONBILL, Platalea leucorodia, Linn.; 
“ Abu Malaka,” or “ Daouas,” or “ Midwas.” 
This singular bird was only seen twice in the Delta, but 
several were obtained up the Nile, and one at the Faioum. 
On one occasion a discharge of four barrels into a flock 
resulted in nine specimens, but they were mostly young 
birds, and got very dirty from the mud where they fell. In 
March I have counted as many as 103 ina flock. In April 
the numbers were generally smaller, but on the 22nd about 
a hundred were seen together. It is evidently migratory. 
* The Stork is a rare bird in Norfolk. In 1861 one paid a visit to 
the parish of Northrepps and alighted in a large marl-pit, now disused, 
and close toa public road. The keeper went after it and would cer- 
tainly have shot it, but a boy put it up. The bird then flew to Wood- 
bastwick, where it was killed. It contained an egg ready for exclusion 
(cf. B. of Norfolk, II., 181). 
