iSHARPE : NOTES ON BIRDS COLLECTED BY E. M. YOUNG. 



306 



with, dead carcases, and as birds and dogs are the only scavengers of the 

 East, not a day passes but the travellers might have shot more Buzzards and 

 Vultures than they could, or would, have preserved. 



2. Elanus Melanopterus, Daud, — Black Winged Falcon. 

 Elanus ccesius, Sav. 



Buteo vociferus, Vieill. 



Two specimens of this pretty Falcon are in Mr. Young's collection. 

 They are chiefly remarkable for the beauty of the eye, which is large 

 and of a deep crimson, and for their length of wing, which clearly 

 marks them as a bird of strong and active flight. The predominating 

 shade of the plumage is bluish grey, which contrasts strikingly with the 

 black of the wing. Their food is said to consist for the most part of insects. 

 Both specimens were shot in the neighbourhood of Beni soueyf, about seventy 

 miles from Cairo. They do not seem to frequent the ISTile except in Lower 

 Egypt. 



3. Falco iESALON, Gm. — Merlin. 

 u^salon lithofaico, Kaup, 

 HyprAriorchis lithofaico, Gray. 



This is one of our British species, although the bird in Mr, 

 Young's collection seems of a darker hue, than any I have seen killed in 

 England. Mr. Tristram says, that in Palestine, it was apparently only a 

 winter visitant, not being observed after March. I suppose the plumage is 

 lighter in the summer, when it visits our shores. The present specimen was 

 shot among the palm groves of IlTubia, where hawks and owls are very 

 plentiful. 



4. Tinnunculus alaudarius, Briss. — Kestrel. 

 Falco tinnunculus, Linn. 



Falco hrunnmus, Beckst. 



Mr. Tristram, says, this bird is common everywhere in Palestine, 

 excepting in the southern wilderness, and a constant resident. The 

 Kestrel is familiar to all who have taken any interest in British Ornithology 

 and therefore no comments are needed, 



5. Upupa epops. Linn. — Hoopoe. 

 TJpupa vulgaris, Pall. 



Upupa macroryncha. Sand. 



The bird was noticed in Palestine by Mr. Tristram, who says it returns 

 there about the end of March. Mr. Young procured a very fine pair, the 

 male especially being beautifully preserved. The latter may be known by 



No 45, March 1. u 



