Birds of Gran Canaria. 597 



iiiidcr side (light coffee-colour), svliicli is intermediate in 

 shade between D. m. canariensis and D. major. 



These beautiful birds are confined to the pine-forests, and 

 in these woods are fairly plentiful. In the various excur- 

 sions which I have made in the Pinar Pajonal I met with 

 the Great Spotted Woodpecker on every occasion. In 

 flight they are most conspicuous. During the month of 

 Februar}^ they were always seen in pairs, and were not so 

 shy as other membei's of the genus which I have come across. 

 Their cry is very loud and betrays their presence at a long 

 distance. Nesting-holes of this species seemed to me to be 

 peculiarly scarce. Herr von Thanner remarks that these 

 holes were always placed higher up the tree-trunks than in 

 the woods of Tenerife. Despite its circumscribed area this 

 bird is extraordinarily well known by the peasants. 



HiRUXDO RUSTiCA. Swallow. 



Large numbers of Swallows arrive in the island in the 

 early summer, and may be seen hawking over the corn- 

 fields. They do not remain to breed. Herr von Thanner 

 mentions having seen H. rustica near Maspalomas as early 

 as February 5th, after a violent storm. 



Chelidon uRBiCA. Housc-Martiu. 



An irregular migrant. I have only once seen the species 

 in the winter mouths, i. e. two examples flying over the 

 " Charco " in company with a few Swifts on February 25th 

 (1912). Herr von Thanner saw great numbers at Maspa- 

 lomas on February 5th after a violent storm. 



TuRDUs MERULA CABRER.E. Blackbird. 

 Turdus merula cabrercB Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1901, p. 313*; 

 Thanner, Orn. Jahrb. xxi. p. 93 (1910). 



a. S ' San Mateo, 2500 ft. 22nd Dec, '08. 



b. ^ . Cueva de las Ninas, 760 metres. 24th Jan. '10. 



c. <?. c? ? • Santa Brigida, 1500 ft. 20th Jan. '11. 

 e. ? . Juncal, 3600 ft. 6th Feb. '11. 



f,ff. 6 ^ ' Above San Mateo, 2800 ft. 11th Feb. '12. 



