Birds. 4441 



had been observed on the water at Osberlon during the whole spring. I accordingly 

 visited the spot and disturbed the female bird, who was then beginning to sit. The 

 nest was formed of flags twined together like a waterhen's, but arched over, with the 

 flags more open. There were seven or eight eggs lying in a little down, but I think 

 the nest was not so thickly lined as a common wild duck's. I took three eggs from 

 the nest, which were of a light olive-brown colour, and about the size of the widgeon's. 

 When I returned home, after a short absence, I found the nest totally destroyed and 

 the eggs gone. I had observed tufted ducks in pairs on the waters in the neighbour- 

 hood of Osberton as late as June 21, last year (1853), and felt certain they bred there 

 then. The nest was close to the house, and within a stone's throw of the drawing- 

 room window." I believe this interesting account of the tufted duck's breeding in this 

 country is the first on record, though from the circumstance of their remaining with 

 the pochard, which breeds in considerable numbers on Hornsea Mere, in Yorkshire, 

 during the summer, I have no doubt that their nests might be found there. — W.M. 

 E. Milner ; 75, Eaton Place, August, 1854. 



Red-necked Phalarope killed near York. — A very fine specimen of the red-necked 

 phalarope, in full summer plumage, was killed a few miles from York in May of this 

 year, and was brought to Mr. Graham, bird-stuffer, by whom it has been set up, and 

 is now in my collection. — Id. 



Singular Hatch of Ducklings. — A neighbour of mine, a good housewife, sat a hen 

 upon duck's eggs: in due time the hen brought off seven ducklings. There was 

 nothing very unusual in this;, but, strange to say, not one of them could stand, and 

 they all came forth from their shells sprawling on their backs, with their flabby paws 

 in the air, making, in their efforts to gain their natural position, a most ludicrous ap- 

 pearance. The parent bird and the good housewife made many attempts to help them 

 on their legs and keep them there; but, as soon as their assistance was withdrawn, 

 they instantly fell on their backs again. As may be concluded, they could not live 

 long in such a state, and, after remaining in this strange position for about five hours, 

 they all died. Can any of your ingenious correspondents explain this singular 

 ornithological problem? — R. Wakefield; Sussex Place, May 29, 1854. 



Birds shot in Egypt. — The following is a list of birds which were shot in Egypt, 

 between Alexandria and the first cataract of the Nile, during the months of Novem- 

 ber, December and January last, by myself and three friends. I have preserved spe- 

 cimens of most of them. With regard to the Egyptian vulture, which is generally 

 figured and described as having yellow legs, I beg to observe that in the very nume- 

 rous specimens which came under my notice, recently killed, and in every stage of 

 transition from brown to white, the legs and feet were invariably pale flesh-colour, 

 tinged with brown in the immature birds. 



Raptores. 



Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus. 



Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus. Double-bearded Falcon, Falco cervialis. 



Imperial Eagle, Aquila Mogilnik. Merlin, Falco cesalon. 



Spotted Eagle, Aquila ncevia. Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus. 



Booted Eagle, Aquila pennata. Sparrow-hawk, Accipiter nisus. 



Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus, Arabian Kite, Milvus JEgyptius. 



(Riippell). Black-winged Kite, Elanus melanopterus. 



Lanner Falcon, Falco Lanarius. Marsh Harrier, Circus ru/us. 



