258 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



have been the African variety of this bird (or the Ligurinus 

 aurantiiventris of the followers of Dr. Cabanis). They were flying 

 in the same direction as the Finch previously mentioned, very 

 low, only about two feet above the water. This was the only 

 flock of any species I saw during the five weeks I was observing 

 land birds. 



Later in the afternoon a Quail (Coturnix communis) flew on 

 board and settled on the nettings (or bulwarks, as they are called 

 by landsmen). A marine tried to catch it, but it rose, and flying 

 round the ship settled again in the same place. Then another 

 attempt was made, with the same result ; and seven times did 

 this bird settle on its originally selected spot, only to be stalked 

 by various members of the crew, who tried to catch it with their 

 caps, &c. After trying an eighth time to settle, it changed its 

 mind and eventually flew away. I don't know why the bird 

 should have persistently chosen to settle on the same spot each 

 time and meet with the same welcome, considering the ship was 

 over two hundred feet long and there were many more comfort- 

 able and secluded spots where it would have been out of sight of 

 everyone. 



On getting into the Gulf of Suez next day at about 4 p.m., 

 we were visited by three representatives of the family Hirundi- 

 nidce, and Her Majesty's Government that night provided well- 

 aired lodgings, free, for three Swallows (Hirundo rustica), one 

 House-Martin (Chelidon urbica), and three Sand-Martins (Cotile 

 riparia). One of the latter and one of the former were caught 

 and brought to me. The Swallow, when released, began to 

 twitter; and I may say of all the birds I saw during our passage 

 home this was the only one that uttered a note of any sort. The 

 silence of our bird visitors (although they were not representatives 

 of our most garrulous British species) was most apparent, and I 

 cannot understand why it was they should all have been mute. 



At the entrance to the Canal we were met by an Egyptian 

 Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), who escorted and saw us safely 

 into the Bitter Lake, although he did not perch on board. After 

 he left, a Willow Wren (Phylloscopus trochilus) flew on board. A 

 most restless little bird it was, flying all over the ship and 

 creeping about the ropes, where, finding nothing in the way of 

 insect life or refreshment, it left us at Ismailia. 



