THE BIRDS OF ALGERIA. 41 



The bird was assembled in flocks, and I counted 

 as many as ninety on the wing together. They 

 appeared to be hawking for flies, and occasionally 

 chased or toyed with each other in the air. They 

 were by no means shy, and often approached 

 within gun-shot, or perched on the trees under 

 which I was standing. A few birds kept alighting 

 on some haycocks, and even on the newly-ploughed 

 land. The flight is remarkably easy and gliding, 

 resembling that of the Bee-eater. In other respects 

 it resembles that of the Kestrel, but heavier, not so 

 graceful, and apparently performed with more exer- 

 tion. Sometimes the entire flock was close to the 

 ground, then it would rise until the birds looked 

 no bigger than Swallows. They seemed in no 

 hurry to quit the place, and I saw them still 

 busy after insects as I passed the place again in 

 the evening. Most of the birds were in immature 

 plumage. 



178. THE HOBBY Falco subbuteo, Linnaeus, passes 

 through Algeria on spring and autumn migration 

 to and from its winter quarters in South Africa. I 

 saw an example near Batna in May. Taczanowski 

 states that it is rare. 



179. THE MERLIN Falco cesalon, Tunstall, is 

 principally known as a winter visitor to Algeria, 



