306 



THE NATtniALlST. 



the darker shade of the colouring; it is one of the commonest of Egyptian- 

 birds. Mr. Young shot seven in an hour upon the same heap of ruhbish. It 

 may alwajs be found in and about the wretched mud villages, where it is 

 attracted by the filth and putrefaction which are inseparable from Egyptian 

 life. It was frequently observed in Palestine, but was less common there 

 than in Egypt. 



6 Ceryle rudis, Linn, — Black and White Kingfisher. 

 Alcedo Tudis, Linn. 



Ceryle varia, Strickl.. 



This bird is very common both in Lower and Upper Egypt, remaining 

 throughout the year, and breeding about April 1. It is curious to see how 

 tenaciously it would keep to a particular perch, generally a dry stick or a 

 telegraph wire, if such were at hand. When in search of food, it might fre- 

 quently be seen poised in the air over stagnant pools, till it suddenl}^ dropped 

 on some fish, diving completely beneath the surface. The fluttering of its 

 wings, as it thus poised itself, was extremely pretty. The note is a shrill 

 twitter, not often heard. The colour of the eggs is white. Mr. Young says 

 he has often pursued this bird for more than a mile along the river bank, as 

 it flew in front of him, continually perching, but never allowing him to get 

 within shot, till at last, seemingly tired of the chase, it would fall an easy 

 prey to the gun. 



7 Merops viridis, Linn. — Green Bee-eater. 

 Merops citrinella, Viell. 



Merops ferrnglniceps, Tlodgs. 



The constant presence of this little bird is one of those charm^s, which 

 make the tourist forget the monotony of Nile's mud-banks ; Acacia trees, 

 (Arab : ' Sont.') and cotton thickets are full of them, and whenever a gleam 

 of sun entices them from their hiding places, they may be seen dancing up 

 and down in it, as if to show off to the best advantage their glossy green 

 wings, and tapering tail feathers. They may occasionally be seen perched 

 in rows of four or five upon the telegraph wires, which generally form part of 

 an Egyptian scene. As many as four or five fell on one occasion at one dis- 

 charge of dust shot. It is among the commonest of Egj^ptian sjDecies, Like 

 the flycatcher it hunts from a fixed spot, seizing its prey on the wing, and then 

 slowly returning to its former position. On approaching the Upper iSTile, they 

 became rarer; the last seen was at Assouan. In IsTubia there were none. 

 The "larger bee-eater was seen and heard constantly in Palestine, but the 

 smaller species were never found again after leaving Egypt. 



