192 1.] Breeding Birds of Crete. 135 



The Wren was common on IMount Ida at over 4500 feet. 

 Full-grown young with their parents were about in parties 

 by the middle of June. 



Accentor collaris subalpinus (Brehm). 



A single bird shot is referable to this Balkan race. I only 

 saw them at Nidha Cave at 5500 feet. Trevor Battye 

 (' Camping in Crete') found them common on Mount Ida at 

 7500 feet in June. 



Stresemann (Avif. Macedon.) unites this race with the 

 typical form. In this I cannot agree; my bird resembles 

 others in the Tring Museum from the Balkans, and accords 

 well with Hartert's description (Vug. pal. Fauna, p. 763). 



Hirundo rustica rustica (L.). 



A single breeding male obtained on 8 June. The specimen 

 is white below, slightly tinged and blotched with chestnut. 

 If the race //. r. hoissonneauti Temm. is recognised it may 

 belong to it, bnt I have not had any Balkan specimen with 

 which to compare my examples. 



The Swallow is a plentiful breeding bird wherever there 

 are human habitations. Three nests found at Gnossos on 

 8 June had fresh eggs, hard-set eggs, and half-fledged young. 



Riparia rupestris (iScop.). 



Common at all elevations where caves or rough craggy 

 country occurs. 



Apus apus apus (L.). 



Three breeding birds obtained agree with others from 

 western Europe, and are not .1. a, marwitzi or A. a. 

 pekinensis. 



Swifts were breeding abun(iantly at (Jandia and on all the 

 small coastal islands off Candia. A few were seen in com- 

 pany with Ajyus melba on the summit of Mount Ida on 

 23 June, but I doubt whether they were up there for any 

 other purpose but food. 



Apus melba melba (L.). 



A common breeding species in the hills and on Dia Island 

 off Candia. Three obtained are typical. 



