THE BIRDS OF ALGERIA. 45 



193. THE HOOPOE Upupa epops, Linnaeus, is a 

 resident in Algeria, but subject to much local move- 

 ment according to season, and largely increased in 

 numbers, especially in the Sahara sub-region, during 

 winter, by migrants from Europe. It is found 

 throughout the mountain districts in summer, but 

 winters chiefly in the oases. This species is held 

 in superstitious veneration by the Arabs, is conse- 

 quently very tame, and resorts to the M'zab cities 

 in large numbers. I found it much more wary in 

 the mountain forests and on the bare hillsides, and 

 far more often heard than seen. Its full, hollow 

 note may be heard for a great distance. 



194. THE BEE-EATER Merops apiaster, Linnaeus, 

 is most abundant on spring and autumn migration, 

 to and from its winter quarters in South Africa, but 

 a fair number remain to breed in the country of the 

 Tell. I found it on migration in the oases early in 

 May, and sparingly distributed in the forest country 

 of the Aures. 



195. THE BLUE- CHEEKED BEE-EATER Merops 

 persicus, Pallas, appears to visit Algeria in summer. 

 I met with a pair of these birds in the oasis of 

 Biskra, in company with the preceding species, but 

 whether they breed in the country I am unable 

 to say. 



