(522) 



Sahara, thonsli we are not certain that it nests south of Batna, bnt believe that 

 it breeds in Biskra, at least. 



Hartert ( r*)!/. yy«/. Fm/nn i. p. 801), and also Hartert and Kleinschmidt {Fulro, 

 l'.)]0, No. 2, pp. 20, 21) have explained that N.W. African specimens are often, if not 

 ijenerally, smaller than Enropean ones ; bnt the difference appears to be so slight 

 and uncertain that it does not seem advisable to name the southern form. It must, 

 however, be said that we have not collected a series of breeding birds, and that 

 not verj' many specimens conld be examined. 



Swallows also migrate through Algeria in great numbers, but none winter in 

 the country, even the breeding birds disajipearing in autumn and not returning 

 Viefore late in March and April. 



[On April 10 Rothschild saw, during the march from Tamerna to Nza-ben- 

 Rzig, two Swallows with a rnfons rump. They were, unfortunately, not near 

 enough to shoot, and passed on very quickly. They can only have been Chelidon 

 (Uiiiricti rujiilaj\ 



124. Hirundo urbica meridionalis Hart. 



Yog. pal. Fiiiimi, i. p. 809 (1910— type Hammam R'hira). See also : Faho, 1910, No. 2. p. 20. 



House-Martins breed in several places in Algeria in great (juantities. Many 

 thousands of nests are to be seen on the barracks in the fortress of Batna, many 

 breed in Algiers town and the suburbs, hundreds of nests are placed on the 

 church and most other buildings in Hammam R'hira. Old Martins' nests were 

 also seen in Laghouat, and all along the railway line in Northern Algeria Martins 

 were seen here and tliere on the wing. These birds breed rather late. During 

 the first week in May they begin to build, bnt we have seen many only building 

 their nests as late as the last week in May. On May 18 a single nest at 

 Hammam R'hira contained two or three eggs (not taken), but all the others were 

 still emjity. 



The N.W. African Martin is smaller than ours. The wings of 8 males 

 measure 101 — lU4-r), those of 14 females 98 — 10(5 nmj., while Enropean Martins 

 have wings of 108 — 114 ram. 



Probably //. urbica urbica passes through Algeria on migration. 



125. Eiparia riparia riparia (L.). 

 Sand-Martins are common on migration iu April, while a few were already 

 seen in March, We have not met tbem anywhere during the nesting season, nor 

 have other recent ornithological visitors to Algeria. 



126. Riparia rupestris (Scop.). 

 The Crag-Martin is very common near El Kantara, on the Djebcl Metlili — 

 especially in the picturesque gorge of Tilaton — and on the rocks near Biskra, iu 

 February, March and April. It no doubt nests near El Kantara and in Nortiieru 

 Algeria, though we have not seen any nests. 



127. Apus melba melba (L.). 



The Alpine Swift passes through South Algeria in March. A good many seem 

 to pass along the Oued Biskra, and we saw and shot specimens between Biskra 

 and Touggourt. 



Great numbers nest in the town of C'oustantine, ]iarfly on tlie rocks of the 

 Kummel gorge, partly (at least iu 1908) under the tiles of a hug.- building. A good 



