Birds of the Province of Constanti?ie. 561 



sterile tracts of country. Mr. Elwes shot a fine specimen of 

 the Swift in the rocks S.W. of Biskra. 



Cypselus melba. 



We found the White-bellied Swift very common at Con- 

 stantino, consorting with the preceding species. Its flight is 

 even more rapid. We also observed it more sparingly at 

 Batna and El Kantara. 



COTILE RIPARIA. 



We observed the Sand-Martin both at Philippeville and 

 Constantine, and also near the sandy banks of the Oued 

 Kantara some few miles before it reaches the oasis bearing 

 that name. 



COTILE RUPESTRIS. 



We only met with the Rock-Martin at El Kantara. It 

 breeds commonly in the stupendous rocks there. 



HiRUNDO URBICA. 



The House-Martin is met with, in the neighbourhood of 

 towns and villages, everywhere from the coast to Biskra. 

 Strangely enough, this species appears to breed in Africa 

 even later than it does in England. On our return-journey 

 we found these birds obtaining mud for their nests at Phi- 

 lippeville. Most of the mud was baked hard by the sun ; and 

 it was only in one or two places that it could be obtained in 

 a soft state. In these places the Martins positively swarmed, 

 and the mud was nothing but a moving mass of birds. The 

 barracks at Batna contain the largest colony of Martins that 

 I ever met with. 



HiRUNDO RUSTICA. 



The above remarks equally apply to the Swallow ; it is one 

 of the most widely spread of AJgerian birds, and quite as late 

 a breeder as the House-Martin. 



MUSCICAPA GRISOLA. 



The Spotted Flycatcher is one of the commonest birds in 

 Algeria. It literally swarmed in the oasis of Biskra, and was 

 abundant in all the wooded tracts and cultivated districts we 

 visited. 



