THE BIRDS OF LOWER EGYPT. 51 
There was an old nest on a ledge of a precipitous part of the 
Wadi Hof, which, according to the Bedouins, had been resorted 
to year after year. 
45. Cypselus apus murinus, Brehm.— The Pallid Swift was 
seen in the desert near Helouan on May 5th and 7th, and at the 
Sakkara Pyramids on May 12th. This species appears to be 
much paler than C. apus when one has a fairly close view of it. 
C. apus apus (Linn.) was not identified for certain, though 
some birds seen flying over the cultivated land near the Great 
Pyramids, on April 30th, I thought belonged to this species. 
There were quite a number of them flying high to the north, 
suggestive of a migratory movement. Most of the Pallid Swifts 
I saw were in pairs or single birds. 
46. Caprimulgus europeus, Linn.—One or two birds seen in 
the Giza Gardens on several occasions between April 30th and 
May 18th seemed to me to be too dark for C. egyptius. 
47. C. egyptius, Licht. — The only occasion on which I was 
out on the desert at dusk I saw a Nightjar, which may have 
belonged to this species, viz. on May 7th at Helouan. 
48. Ceryle rudis (Linn.).—One seen at Inchas, in the Delta, 
on May 2nd. Several used to visit the ponds in the Giza 
Gardens during my stay, and were to be seen sitting on the 
railings round one of the ponds, especially early in the morning. 
49. Coracias garrulus, Linn.— One seen sitting in a date- 
palm on the edge of the cultivation near Abu Roash on April 
30th. I did not hear it utter any note. 
50. Merops apiaster, Linn.—Many seen in flocks during the 
last few days of April and the beginning of May round Cairo, 
and during my stay it was a frequent visitor to the Giza 
Gardens. One shot on the edge of the cultivation near Abu 
Roash had bees in its gizzard, and the feathers of the abdomen 
smeared with honey. The ovary was not enlarged. 
51. M. persicus, Pall.—I came across a small colony of these 
birds on some semi-cultivated ground at Inchas, in the Delta, on 
May 2nd. They were in pairs, and several were hawking over 
and sitting on a bare piece of ground; that they were nesting 
there I feel sure, and a female obtained had, judging by the 
condition of the ovary and oviduct, recently laid; moreover, it 
had a large incubation patch. 
