190 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Total length 5-75, wing 5, culmen -30, tarsus -45. 

 Adult male similar to the female, but rather larger. 



Observations. — The length of the wing in this species varies considerably 

 in individuals. 



Although nowhere particularly abundant, the Crag-Martin is to 

 be met with in various parts of Tunisia, and, as in some other 

 Mediterranean countries, appears to be resident and found at all 

 seasons. I have specimens obtained in Central Tunisia in spring, 

 and notes of its occurrence in the north of the Regency in mid-winter, 

 but it is probably more or less local in its distribution, and is not to 

 be found throughout the country generally. In Algeria and Marocco 

 the Crag-Martin appears to be not uncommon in certain districts, 

 particularly in the latter country, and, according to Favier, it is nearly 

 as common as the House-Martin in the neighbourhood of Tangier. 

 In Spain Col. Irby says the species is plentiful about Gibraltar, and 

 though universally distributed in the rocky Sierras during the breeding 

 season, is to some extent migratory (Orn. Straits Gib. p. 104). In 

 Sicily the species is very local in its distribution, but in the districts 

 where it occurs appears to be resident. In the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of the town of Syracuse I have found it most plentiful in 

 the middle of winter, and from the Madonian Mountains I have 

 specimens of it obtained in June. 



From Tripoli I have no example of this species, but I have one 

 of C. ohsoleta, Cab., which Mr. Dodson obtained at the small town of 

 Sebha, in the interior of the Vilayet, in the month of June. The name 

 of Crag-Martin is well bestowed, for the bird is eminently a rock- 

 loving species, its favourite haunts being among crags and rocky 

 caverns, in which it roosts at night and nests during the breeding 

 season. High sea-cliffs are much frequented by these birds, and I 

 have often watched them circling round about such spots in the 

 morning and evening. During the middle of the day, in winter-time, 

 the birds seem to forsake their home and go elsewhere, presumabl}' 

 in search of food, returning, however, about an hour before sunset, 

 and going through their customary evolutions preparatory to retiring 

 to roost. The food of this species, like that of its allies, consists of 

 the smaller winged insects, and the birds may often be seen hawking 

 for flies in the company of others of their kind. Mr. Aplin saw the 



