SHaRPE : NOTES BIRDS COLLECTED BY E. M. YOVSG. 



309 



15. TuRTUR CAMBAiEXSis, Bj). — Cambaian turtle. 

 Colmnha cambaiensls, Gm. 



Columba erurgaleriMs, Linn. 



This is an elegant little bird, rather smaller than our own C. turtur. 

 It is found in almost every tree, sont and sycamore throughout Egypt 

 and Nubia, Indeed the constant cooing <.f doves mingling with the mur- 

 muring of water wheels (sakia) is almost the only real music met with in 

 this unmusical land. 



16. Pldviakus melakocephalus, Vieill. — Zic-zac. 

 Cliaradrius melanoce^lialus, Linn. 



Gliaradrius cegyptus, Gould., 



Sesson says, this bird is found in Senegal, and I have gathered a few 

 facts from Gould's Birds of Asia respecting its habits. It is called in 

 common with H. spinosus, the Z^ic-zac from its note, and it is a matter of 

 some doubt whether this lattei bird or P. melanocejplialus, is the brochilus, 

 which according to Herodotus, picks the Crocodile's teeth. Gould seems 

 to think this is the species, as, in his plate of F. melanocephalus, he 

 represents the bird as performing the kindly office for the ungainly mon- 

 ster. Mr. Young's note contains a curious fact in relation to this bird, and 

 r<ecords an instance of its surprising vitality. He says that, having shot a 

 specimen through the head, he picked it up, staunched the blood, and put 

 it in his pocket. Walking further on, he was surprised to see a trodhilas 

 get up close to him and fly across the Nile, uttering its peculiar note. On 

 feeling in his pocket shortly after, he found the apparently dead bird had 

 come to lile, spread its delicate wings once more, and landed safely half a 

 mile or mure across the river. 



17. HopLOPTERUs spiNosus, Bp. — The Spurwnnged plover. 



Very common in Lgypt. The natives call it the zic-zac in imitation 

 of its cry. The present specimens were obtained at Thebes. Gould 

 (B. of Europe) says these birds are very noisy in their habits, and the 

 the sexes are so closely allied as to shew no perceptible difference. 

 Nothing is known of its nidification. 



18. Heuodias garzetta, lAnn. — Little Egret. 

 Ardea gavzetta, Linn. 



Ardea nicea, Gm. 



Latham says it is called in Egypt, the " Ox-Keeper" (more properly 

 Buffalo-bird, all the oxen of Egypt being Buffalos,) from its habits of 

 frequenting the backs of cattle, and feeding on the larva of Adrus which 



