386 
On the Birds of Lower Egypt. [Ibis, 
[A common breeding species at Inchas. Dates for fresh 
eggs varied from 15 May to 15 June in 1909. The largest 
clutch obtained was one of six.—R. S.] 
223. Porphyrio madagascariensis. Green-backed Galli- 
nule. 
At the end of April 1919 I was at Kantara. A gang of 
natives were cutting down the reeds, and the corporal in 
charge of this anti-mosquito measure informed me that he 
had had some eggs brought to him the previous day, which, 
from his description, I think must have belonged to this 
species. Unfortunately, they had been destroyed. I cer¬ 
tainly found the birds numerous in the immediate vicinity 
on the shores of Lake Menzaleh. I once saw Gallinules at 
Inchas. 
224. Fulica atra atra. Coot. 
Arrives in October, and remains at Abu Zabaal until 
March. In some winters very numerous, and in others com¬ 
paratively rare. When shooting, on one occasion, I saw 
these birds in such numbers that two collided in mid-air, 
and both fell and were picked up dead. 
225. Coturnix coturnix coturnix. Quail. 
A few are resident, but are rarely met with. From 
3 February to the end of March large numbers pass through, 
affording good sport. The second week in March marks the 
height of the migration at Abu Zabaal. Fewer birds are 
met with on their return flight in September. On 18 April, 
1916, I took a clutch of eight Quail’s eggs, in a field at 
Inchas. They were quite fresh. On 20 January, 1917, a 
native brought me three fresh Quail’s eggs, which were all 
that were left of eight found in a nest, also at Inchas, and, 
when shooting there in May 1917, a single fresh egg was 
also brought to me. 
[Fresh eggs were brought to me by a native in April, 
1894, from Ayat, and two fresh eggs from Luxor, on 
22 March, 1910. An oviduct egg with hard shell is unspotted 
and the colour of a pale English Partridge’s egg.—R. S.] 
