1921 .] the Near East and Tropical East Africa. 635 
101, min. 93). Culmen of males 21-22 mm. and for 
females 20 mm. 
This is the characteristic race of the core of the Egyptian 
Delta, its southern breeding-limit being about the Vine Delta 
Barrage-Caliub-Inchas, whence its range extends north-east 
and north-west almost to the sea-coast, but always keeping 
well within the Delta and not on the outskirts. 
In winter they wander, when they have been obtained at 
Giza and Kantara. A bird of this race found breeding at 
Helouan is an exception. 
Two breeding birds from near Benha, some 35 miles 
north of Cairo, are rather pale for typical nigricans , but are 
much too dark for maculata. During April, Nicoll and I 
motored from Cairo to Benha. About Caliub the birds 
rapidly changed from macidata to nigricans , and at Benha 
nearly every bird was typical nigricans. 
Galerida cristata maculata Brehm, 1858. 
Galerida cristata altirostris Brehm (cf. Hartert, Nov. Zool. 
1919, p. 36). 
87 birds examined from Port Said and Kantara on 
the Suez Canal (Feb. and March), the northern edge of the 
Delta (Jan., Feb., June, Oct.), western edge of the Delta 
(Nov.), south-eastern edge of the Delta (April and June), 
Alexandria (Oct.), Caliub and Benha (April), near Cairo, 
Giza, Pyramids, etc. (Jan. to March, May, Aug. to Dec.), 
Helouan (March, April, Nov., Dec.), south of Helouan at 
Iyat, Wasta, Khizam, Kenah, Esna, Sohag, and Luxor (Jan. 
to March, Sept, to Dec.). 
In fresh autumn plumage the breast-spotting is almost a 
smudge, the spotting only appearing fairly distinct after the 
feather edgings have worn off; but the spotting at all 
seasons is large and not clear-cut, and never so dense as in 
nigricans. Upper parts paler than in nigricans, with less and 
less intense black in the centre of the feathers. Crest 
without so much black as in nigricans. 
This race shows much variation in both the upper and 
under parts. In the series from Helouan some approach 
nigricans , whilst a breeding bird from that district is a 
