210 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



(Upupa epops) were common here, and in most places up the 

 Nile. Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) I only saw in the Fayum. 



Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) swarmed, and Crested Larks 

 (Corydus cristatus) were in every field (these were numerous at 

 Luxor too) ; Little Owls sat on the dykes, and Egyptian Swifts 

 (Cypselus murium) sped over our heads as we approached Lake 

 Karun. The lake is covered with wildfowl, and many happy 

 hours might be spent in watching the birds on it ; but the 

 traveller should bring his own small boat with him. It was 

 a disappointment only to cross the water in the enormous native 

 boat ; we never got near the innumerable Ducks, and I only 

 made out Tufted Ducks (Mthyia fuligula) and Shovelers. Eed- 

 shanks (Totanus calidris) waded among the tamarisk bushes at 

 the edges, less noisy than usual. Gulls were flying over the 

 water and crying loudly. The only one I identified was the 

 Little Gull (Larus minutus), just shot by a German tourist, who 

 described his three days in the visitors' book as " Splendid sport ! 

 Bag : 1 Gull, 1 Duck, 1 Flamingo." 



I saw nine Flamingos [Phcenicopterus roseus) wading and 

 swimming ; only two had their pink plumage. All the way up 

 the Nile I only caught sight of one of these birds, but there were 

 immense flocks on Lake Menzaleh, to be seen from the train on 

 returning to Port Said. 



Amongst numerous White Wagtails who were bathing in a 

 flooded bean-field, I discovered several of the Grey-headed species 

 (M. viridis). At Lahun a pair of Green Bee-eaters (Merops 

 viridis) perched on the telegraph-wire. These are the resident 

 species, which Shelley says do not usually come north of Golo- 

 saneh. I saw another pair near Luxor. 



Some Bulbuls (Pycnonotus arsinoe) were very lively in a 

 garden at Medina, and I saw the Graceful or Streaky Warbler 

 (Prinia gracilis) there for the first time. Another Warbler 

 answered to the description of Rueppell's Warbler (Sylvia ruep- 

 pelli), but I cannot be certain of it. 



The first day on the river after leaving Cairo was much the 

 best for birds. We ran every few miles into flocks of from three 

 to five hundred Ducks, which rose and flew round in front of the 

 boat before settling down behind it. Pochard (JEthyia ferina) , 

 Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, and Mallard among them. Rows of 



