. Egyptian birds : for the most part seen in the Nile Valley . ) of head ; back a changing brown with purpleand green reflections on the wing, barred with darker mark-ings ; the large wing-feathers have rows of bright buflf spotson their outer margins; rump a dark slaty grey with darkerwavy bars; buff stripes on shoulders ; legs greenish; beakreddish-brown ; eyes brown. Length, 93 inches. This name is unfortunate, for some people seem toimagine that the bird will be found to have paint onit, like a painted Sparrow! Though a handsomelymarked bird, those who have shot much say that asa sporting
. Egyptian birds : for the most part seen in the Nile Valley . ) of head ; back a changing brown with purpleand green reflections on the wing, barred with darker mark-ings ; the large wing-feathers have rows of bright buflf spotson their outer margins; rump a dark slaty grey with darkerwavy bars; buff stripes on shoulders ; legs greenish; beakreddish-brown ; eyes brown. Length, 93 inches. This name is unfortunate, for some people seem toimagine that the bird will be found to have paint onit, like a painted Sparrow! Though a handsomelymarked bird, those who have shot much say that asa sporting bird it is not to be compared with thecommon Snipe, as it rises slowly, it does not twistor zig-zag about, and is content with a very shortflight. It is a resident bird, and breeds in ISIay^ inLower Egypt. I met with it at Lake INIenzalehwhen there in xVpril, and it possibly is more commonthroughout the country than is imagined, as it liesvery close in cover, and rarely shows itself unlesscompelled to by being almost trodden upon. 128 PAINTED SNIPE. THE AVOCET Recurvirostra avocetta Whole plumage white, excepting the following parts, whichare black—top of head and back of neck, a band between theshoulders, inner part of scapulars, wing-coverts, and prim-aries ; beak long and slender, and turned upwards; legs,slaty-blue-green colour. Total length, 17 inches. I HAVE included this bird because it is like theSpoonbill, so singular in the form of its bill, and sointeresting to us, because at one time it was fairlycommon in Great Britain. If it is seen it ought tobe easily identified, not only because of its blackand white plumage, but also because of the curioussweeping movement it makes with its bill as itsearches the water for its prey, something sug-gestive of a mower with a scythe^ Captain Shelleysays it is met with in large flocks on the Nile, butI have only seen it in very small parties, six beingthe largest number that I have seen together on theriver, but at Lake Menzaleh
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