263 
1921 .] Birds of Lower Egypt. 
107. Caprimulgus aegyptius saharae. Nightjar. 
On 20 May, 1916, I shot a female which had well-defined 
incubation patches, at Abu Zabal. I never discovered eggs 
or young, but saw another adult on 25 May near the same 
place—the edge of the desert. In 1917 I again saw a pair 
of birds in the same locality on 30 May and 4 July. A 
systematic search, however, brought no luck. I shot other 
specimens, but appear to have mislaid the data, and the 
skins are in the collection of the Giza Museum or that of 
Mr. J. L. Bonhote. 
[A pair shot on 25. v. 10 at Gattali had their reproductive 
organs very much developed, but I failed to obtain any 
eggs.—R.S.] 
108. Merops apiaster. European Bee-eater. 
Large numbers pass through Abu Zabal during both 
migrations. Average dates 9 April and mid-September. 
These birds roost in the same clumps of trees every year. 
109. Merops persicus persicus. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. 
Large straggling flocks annually pass over Abu Zabal, 
sometimes at a great height and somewhat earlier than the 
preceding species. It breeds at Inchas in fair numbers, and 
I have taken full clutches there on 12 May, which date is 
very consistent. 
[Th is Bee-eater also breeds between Farash-hour and 
Dfimietta ; also between Abu Ham mad and Mahsama. 
In 1904 Mr. Malcolm took fresh eggs between 2-25 May. 
At Inchas on 12. v. 09 I dug out several nest-holes, but the 
birds had not laid. The last week in May is apparently the 
time for full clutches, which range from four to six.—B. S.] 
110. Merops orientalis Cleopatra. Green Bee-eater. 
Five seen on 17 October in the garden at Abu Zabal 
is the only record I have for that place. It is, however, 
fairly numerous round Cairo in the winter, and breeds no 
farther south than Mazghouna, where I took fresh eggs 
on 27 April, 1918. It is interesting to note that I found an 
addled egg of the previous year in amongst a fresh clutch, 
thus showing that the same hole is sometimes used again as 
a nesting-site. Some of their holes were on quite flat open 
