SWALLOWS. 



5 2 3 



Red-Eumped This pretty swallow (//. rufula) spends the summer in the 



swallow. eastern portion of the Mediterranean, whence it extends eastwards 

 to the Himalaya and Turkestan. Many red-rumped swallows breed in Greece, 

 inhabiting the mountain-ranges of that country. In Palestine this species nests in 

 caves, although the birds do not consort in colonies ; the arches of the monastery 

 on Mount Carmel being a favourite breeding-place. The nest is a beautiful 



RED-RUMPED SWALLOW AND CRAG MARTIN (^ liat. size). 



structure built of the same materials as that of the house-martin ; the eggs being 

 four in number, and pure white in colour. This swallow is common in warm 

 sheltered valleys in the highest parts of the vine-regions of Greece and Asia 

 Minor, where it may often be seen hawking for insects in company w r ith the 

 swallow and house-martin. It cannot, however, be mistaken for either of these 

 species, as it possesses the long forked tail of the swallows in addition to the white 

 rump of the house-martin ; and it may be distinguished by its note, which is 

 lower than that of the swallow. The nests are built of mud, and are similar to 



