62 FAUNA AND FLORA OF PALESTINE. 



104. Chelidon nrbica. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 344.) Martin. 



The Martin arrives in great numbers about the 5th April, and having 

 no windows to be utiHzed, builds on the faces of cliffs in all the valleys 

 and ravines. 



The Martin inhabits Europe generally during summer, migrating in 

 winter to Africa. It has not been traced east of Western Siberia and 

 Persia. 



105. Cotilc riparia. (Linn. Syst. Nat. i., p. 344.) Sand Martin. 

 The Sand Martin returns about the end of March, and while numbers 



pass on, small colonies remain and breed in the localities adapted for the 

 purpose. 



No Passerine bird has such a world-wide range as the Sand Martin. 

 It is found in summer in the whole of Europe, Asia, and North America, 

 even as far north as Melville Island, and passes in winter through Africa 

 as far as the Transvaal, into India, and in South America as far as Brazil. 



106. Collie rtipestris. (Scopoli. Ann. I. Hist. Nat., p. 167.) Crag 

 Martin. 



The Crag Martin resides in all the glens of Palestine throughout the 

 year, not generally in large numbers, and only in a few places appearing 

 decidedly gregarious. It breeds early in March, laying, unlike most other 

 Martins, spotted eggs. 



Though confined entirely to the localities indicated by its name, the 

 Crag Martin has a wide range from Spain to China, not extending, how- 

 ever, very far north or south of that line. So far as I have observed, in 

 the Atlas, Greece, Asia Minor, and Palestine, it is sedentary. 



107. Cotile obsokta. Cabanis. Mus. Hein. i., p. 50. Pale Crag 

 Martin. 



This small species is in Palestine entirely confined to the Dead Sea 

 basin, where it is sedentary. Round the sea itself it is the only species, 

 but at the north end it mingles with C. rupestris, and they both breed in 

 the same caves in Jebel Ouarantania. 



This is essentially a desert species, as the last is a mountain one. It 



