COTILE EIPAR1A. 95 



in September and October, frequently travelling in company with 

 Hirundo rustica, and, as in their case, remaining to breed in 

 some numbers. They often make their nests touching one 

 another, as many as sixty being joined together ; the entrance- 

 hole is sometimes at the side, sometimes in the centre, according 

 to the position of the nest. They are named ' Khotaifa ' by the 

 Arabs, indiscriminately with the Swallow." Favier. 



The above notes equally apply to the House-Martin in Anda- 

 lucia. The earliest date of arrival noticed at Gibraltar was the 

 5th of February. Verner gives notes of great numbers passing 

 on 15th of April, 1875, and many passing on the 17th of February, 

 1879. 



Both this bird and the Swallow frequently nest in caves and 

 on overhung rocks. 



Bump white ; under surface pure white ; tail much forked ; toes 

 feathered. Length 4f inches. 



96. Cotile riparia (Linnseus). The Sand-Martin. 



" Migratory, and the least abundant of the Swallows about 

 Tangier, arriving to cross the Straits in March and April, returning 

 in October to disappear for the winter." Favier. 



We found the Sand-Martin at Has el Doura, in Morocco, in 

 small numbers, and have no doubt that they were nesting in the 

 vicinity. They breed in the neighbourhood of Seville, but near 

 Gibraltar are only met with on passage. The first seen by me 

 was on the 24th of March 1870, 22nd of March 1871, 24th of 

 February 1872, 28th of February 1874; they were seen passing 

 as late as the 24th of April. On the loth of May I saw, in the 

 evening, over some marshes near Vejer, a flight of Sand-Martins 

 numbering many hundreds I might say, thousands. I noticed 

 them on the 14th of October on their southward journey. 



Above mouse-coloured ; underparts white, except greyish band between 

 chest and throat. Minute tuft of feathers just above hind toe. 



Young. Feathers above edged with huffish white. Length 4f inches. 



