182 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



It is perhaps worthy of observation here that the present species 

 appears to be commoner in Sicily than M. atricapilla, although in 

 Continental Italy the contrary is the case. 



In its habits and general life M. coUaris resembles its near relative 

 71/. atricapilla, and there can be no doubt that the two species are 

 very closely allied, so much so, indeed, that some ornithologists do not 

 distinguish one from the other. The call note of the present species is 

 a sharp " tchlp." The bird is of a restless nature, and seems to be 

 constantly on the move. It feeds chiefly on flies and other small 

 insects, generally capturing its prey on the wing. Its movements 

 when thus occupied are particularly graceful and well worth watching. 



Family HIEUNDINID^. 



HIRUNDO RUSTICA, Linnseus. 



SWALLOW. 



Hirundo rustica, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 343 (1766) ; Sliarpe, Cat. Birds 

 Brit. Mns. x, p. 128 ; Malherbc, Cat. Bais. d'Ois. Alg. p. 17 (1846) ; 

 Loche, Exyl. Set. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 64 (1867) ; Kocuig, J. f. 0. 1888, 

 p. 166 ; id. J. f. 0. 1892, p. 364 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1894, p. 90 ; 

 Erlanger, J. f. 0. 1899, p. 512. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Kairouan, Central Tunisia. 



Forehead and throat chestnut ; crown and uppei- parts generally, as well 

 as a pectoral band, metallic blue-black ; quills and tail with a bluish-green 

 gloss, the latter with white patches on all the feathers except the central 

 pair, the outer pair extending generally two inches or more beyond the 

 others ; lower breast and abdomen rufescent huffy-white, becoming darker 

 on the crissum. 



Iris very dark brown ; bill and feet black. 



Total length 750 inches, wing 4-80, culmen '80, tarsus -40. 



Adult female similar to the male, but slightly duller in colouring. 



Although to be met with in Tunisia throughout a considerable 

 portion of the year, the Swallow can only be looked upon as a visitor 

 in that country, as elsewhere. It is true individuals of the species may 

 occasionally be found there even in the middle of winter, but these are 



